Yuan Longping appraises rice in an experimental plot of super hybrid rice in Xiangtan County, central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 9, 2003.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
Two years after the "father of hybrid rice" Yuan Longping died of illness at the age of 91, Chinese people presented flowers in front of his grave, posting images and text online to mourn the man who developed strains of hybrid high-yield rice that helped alleviate famine and poverty around the world.
 
A clip of video resurfaced and went viral on China's Twitter-like social media platform Sina Weibo on Sunday where Yuan spoke about his dreams of resting under the spike of super hybrid rice plants as high as the sorghum and of promoting the hybrid high-yield rice to all over the world. The post's related hashtag has received nearly 48 million views and comments as of press time.
 
"I cannot believe Grandpa Yuan has left us for two years. We'll always remember and respect you," said one netizen. "I still remember the word you said before. I know you've become a shining star and we can see you every time looking up to the sky," a netizen posted.
 
On Sunday, people presented flowers and mourning cards at Yuan's grave in Changsha in Central China's Hunan Province, including members of his scientific research team who reported the recent progress they made to Yuan, as well as a college freshman who took an overnight train from the city of Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province.

Yuan, a pioneer in the research and development of hybrid rice in China and also the first scientist in the world to successfully utilize the heterosis of rice, has not only earned respect from Chinese people but also the global community, as the hybrid rice technology has been promoted globally, lifting more people out of hunger.
 
Yuan's contribution has not only benefited Chinese people, but also changed the destiny of numerous people worldwide, especially in developing countries plagued by food shortages similar to what China experienced in the past, benefiting counties including Vietnam, India, Brazil, the US, Bangladesh, Madagascar, among others.

Others shared photos, videos and stories about Yuan to honor his memory. "A single grain of rice could save or trip one country. People starved to death of famine. People didn't have enough food to eat. I've seen all of these before. But such scene is impossible, very impossible to happen again anymore," Yuan said in an interview in 2019.