Children at Chinese embassy in US send wishes to Dorian

By CHEN WEIHUA in Washington (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-01-15 08:36

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai joins some 20 students of the Chinese embassy's Sunshine School outside the embassy to send their best wishes to Dorian Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The wish of 8-year-old cancer-stricken American boy Dorian Murray to be famous in China and see the Great Wall has triggered strong response inside China where countless netizens posting pictures of themselves standing on the Great Wall in Beijing and holding signs reading "#D-Strong". The news has also drawn the attention of a group of Chinese children only 370 miles away from Dorian's home in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Outside the Chinese embassy in Washington on Thursday afternoon, 9-year-old Lv Yige said she wants to tell Dorian to hold on and get well soon so they can climb the Great Wall together.

"The structure which resembles the Great Wall is splendid. It will bring him good luck," Lv said, pointing to the embassy building. Designed by noted Chinese American architect I. M. Pei, the huge embassy structure looks just like the beacons on the Great Wall.

Lv is one of some 20 students of the embassy's Sunshine School who gathered outside the embassy to send their best wishes to Dorian. They are all children of diplomats and staff working at the embassy.

"Dorian, we all love you, we love you, stay strong," the students, holding a painting of dragon-shaped Great Wall with the hashtag "D-Strong," shouted their greeting.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai joined the students in extending the best wishes. "It is quite moving to see Dorian being optimistic and strong. I sincerely hope he defeats the disease and realizes his wish of seeing the Great Wall," said Cui, who also asked his staff to send a greeting card and a photo album of Great Wall to Dorian.

Dorian had told his parents that his wish "before going to heaven" was to be famous in China and to see the Great Wall, which he called "kind of a bridge. People walk on it." The message, which was posted by his parents on Facebook, has spread fast in China.

Rui Yiwei, also from the Sunshine School, said she hopes Dorian will stay strong and live happily. "Miracle will happen," said the 11-year-old.

Wilson Wang, who is 8-year-old same as Dorian, said he got the news from his mom's iPhone and he wanted to tell Dorian that the Great Wall is really cool. "I'm Wilson, so stay strong and get well, we two can climb the Great Wall together," he said.

Qi Mutong, 10, said she wants to tell Dorian not to give up and get well soon. "Though he might not be able to get to the Great Wall, we all could help him to see the Great Wall, and other attractions in China," Qi said.

She hopes more people will show their love to Dorian such as by sending him pictures so he can travel around the world.

"I want to tell him that the Great Wall is significant and it takes stamina to climb it. You have to persevere to climb the Great Wall and never give up, otherwise you won't see the most beautiful scene from the top," Qi said.