Today I was told a sad news that Mr. Zhang Fangyu, the former president of Chuxiong Camellia Society, had passed away yesterday at the age of 89.
Mr. Zhang was borned in 1933 in Shandong province. He had ever been a PLA soldier since 1949 and then worked in post and telecommunications, and had ever served as a journalist, head of the ethnic task force, director of the Chuxiong City Garden Bureau, and director of the Chuxiong City Construction Committee. After his retirement in 1993, he presided over the development of the Zixi Mountain Scenic Area in Chuxiong, and went deep into the Yi people's Mountain to conduct investigation and research on ethnic culture, local history, Buddhist history, biodiversity and cultural diversity. His main works include the autobiographical novels "Childhood", "Fleeing", "Apprenticeship" and "Travel Guide to Chuxiong Prefecture", "Zixi Mountain History", "Chuxiong Historical Inscriptions", "Shuimu Mountain Buddhist Examination", and participated in the compilation of "Shuimu Mountain History" and "Chuxiong Ancient Camellia trees".
In Camellia world, he was respected by many Chinese members. He was the most important organizer of 2012 Chixiong International Camllia Congress. He promoted many Chinese to join the ICS, and had attended ICS congress many times throughout the world.
Melborne of Australia (2006). from Left: Mirella Motta, Greg Davis, Zhang Fangyu and Gianmario Motta
Falmouth UK (2008), from left: He Guangping, Wang Zhonglang, Zhang Fangyu, Greg Davis, Dai Li
Kurume of Japan (2010), from left: Maria, Carmen, Zhang Fangyu, Pilar