Prof. Liu Hongmao, former director of XTBG and vice president of CAS Kunming Branch, died of illness on May 2 in Kunming at the age of 45. His farewell ceremony was held at Youguanqiao Funearl Home on May 5. About 300 friends and family attended the farewell ceremony to pay their last respects to Prof. Liu.

The staff of the Garden mourned with deep grief for Prof. Liu Hongmao. He has made prominent contributions to the development of XTBG and the studies on biodiversity conservation as well.

  At the funeral ceremony, CAS vice president Chen Zhu expressed condolences to Liu and his grief-stricken family, and said that Liu’s life is short but meaningful and invaluable. The passing away of Prof. Liu Hongmao is a great loss to XTBG, and even to CAS.

   Many leaders and institutes sent condolence massages and wreaths, including CAS president Lu Yongxiang, CAS executive vice president Bai Chunli, NSFC director Chen Yiyu, president Xu Zhihong of Beijing University, etc.