On the morning of October 24, a farewell ceremony was held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing for Professor Chen Ning Yang, world-renowned physicist and Nobel Laureate in Physics. Professor Yang was an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a professor at Tsinghua University, and the Honorary Director of the University’s Institute for Advanced Study.
Farewell to Professor Chen Ning Yang
Earlier in the day, the memorial hall at Babaoshan was solemn and quiet, filled with gentle, mournful music. At the center hung a banner reading “In Memory of Professor Chen Ning Yang,” beneath which stood his portrait. The late professor rested peacefully amid flowers and evergreens, draped in the national flag of the People’s Republic of China.
Party and state leaders, Professor Yang’s family and friends, the entire university leadership, faculty, students, alumni, and guests from all walks of life—came to pay their final respects. Mourners walked forward in silence to bow in respect and offer their condolences to his family.
Many members of the Tsinghua community attended on their own initiative, forming a long, quiet line that extended well beyond the memorial hall. From gray-haired senior alumni to freshmen embarking on their academic journeys, mourners stood in silence, their expressions solemn, touched by grief.
Tsinghua faculty, students, alumni, and members of the wider community attend the farewell for Professor Chen Ning Yang
Among them was Professor Zhai Hui, one of Professor Yang’s doctoral students and a faculty member of the Institute for Advanced Study. He spoke with deep emotion as he recalled that Professor Yang was a devoted scientist deeply committed to his country, and said that Yang’s motto—"Better to be genuine than clever; better to be simple than ornate”—will continue to guide his life and work.
Chen Zihan, a doctoral student at Tsinghua’s School of Law who once portrayed physicist Deng Jiaxian in Tsinghua’s original stage play Ma Lan Hua Kai, was deeply moved by the sight of fellow students holding portraits and handwritten notes of remembrance outside the hall. He noted that while Professor Yang has passed away, the scientific light he kindled will continue to guide young people in the years to come.
Wu Nianle, a retired Tsinghua faculty member, wept as he remembered the years working alongside Professor Yang. He recalled witnessing the professor’s dedication to advancing the Institute for Advanced Study and his thoughtful vision for its future, and expressed his gratitude for Yang’s kindness, sincerity, and mentorship.
Among the visitors was a father and his young son who had come to pay their respects. The father said that Professor Yang’s achievements had resonated deeply across generations, and he hoped his child would grow up with a similar sense of purpose.
Today, beneath the quiet glow of autumn, we bid farewell to a towering figure in science. His lifelong commitment to substance over spectacle, his pursuit of truth, and his deep sense of duty to his country continue to inspire generations. Though he is gone, the spirit he embodied remains—quiet, steady, and enduring.
