Li Pei—Who was Li Pei?
She was nothing like those trembling starlets, desperate for the whole world to admire their glitter and glamour.
Li Pei, they say, was the last true aristocratic lady of China—
One of the greatest women of modern China.
At the Chinese Academy of Sciences, she was known as the most beautiful and radiant rose.
She taught for over forty years.
Inside the CAS compound, more than half the scholars had once been her students.
Her contributions stand shoulder to shoulder with those of her husband, Guo Yonghuai.
Her husband, Guo Yonghuai,
was a great scientist, honored posthumously as a national martyr.
He perished in a tragic plane crash.
In the final ten seconds,
he used his body to shield classified documents,
ensuring that 22 days later,
China’s thermonuclear missile test succeeded—
a breakthrough that shattered the dreams of the West.
At the time, Americans said:
“One Qian Xuesen is as powerful as five divisions.”
But Qian Xuesen replied,
“One Guo Yonghuai is greater than ten elite divisions.”
A brilliant scientist who straddled three major fields—missiles, nuclear weapons, and satellites—
Guo Yonghuai’s value to China was beyond measure.
His sacrifice stunned the entire nation;
Premier Zhou Enlai himself wept in mourning.
And yet, at her husband’s memorial,
Li Pei did not shed a single tear.
She simply said, softly:
“Old Guo died for his country.
His merit is unmatched.
I am proud of him—
because in him shone the light of our generation’s spirit and life.”
After her husband’s passing, Li Pei picked up the chalk and returned to the classroom, devoting herself wholeheartedly to educating the next generation of scientific pioneers.
With wisdom, grace, and unwavering dedication, she nurtured the budding flowers of China’s future in advanced science and technology.
In her later years, Li Pei quietly donated her entire life’s savings to establish scholarships, supporting the education and development of countless outstanding young minds.
She never sought the spotlight.
Her generosity was quiet, her influence profound.
People respectfully addressed her as “Xiansheng”—a term traditionally reserved for revered male scholars in China.
To bestow this title upon a woman is extraordinarily rare.
Only women of exceptional virtue, intellect, and legacy are worthy of such a distinction.
And Li Pei was undoubtedly one of them.
In 2017, at the age of 100, Li Pei passed away, taking with her a heart still full of unfulfilled dreams.
Her departure was mourned across China’s scientific community.
But even in death, her legacy did not fade.
To honor her immense contributions to science and education, the International Astronomical Union officially named an asteroid after her—“Li Pei”.
Drifting silently through the vastness of the cosmos, that celestial body now carries not just her name, but the memory of her life’s brilliance.
This is the kind of star our nation should truly follow.
A star not of the red carpet, but of red dedication.
Not of vanity, but of vision.
Li Pei was, and always will be, a star in the truest, most enduring sense of the word.
She is proof that quiet strength, sincere patriotism, and a lifelong devotion to knowledge can leave an impact as vast and timeless as the stars themselves.
