Born on September 7,1930 in Chongqing,Yuan Longping was from a poor farmer's family. Having graduated from Southwest Agriculture College in 1953,he was sent to work as a teacher in the Agriculture School in the west of Hunan. He began his research in rice in 1964 and got the First National Special Prize for Invention in 1981. Making a contribution to hybrid rice, he is honored as "Father of Hybrid Rice" be the international friends. Famous as he is, he leads a simple life and cares little for money and fame.