Following the death of inspirational musician David Bowie, several prominent Chinese musicians and celebrities, as well as Bowie's Chinese fans, have taken to online microblogging platform Sina Weibo to express their sorrow and gratitude for the fallen rock star, as reported by The New York Times.
Zheng Jun, a singer and songwriter who gained prominence in the 1990s, said that his Sina Weibo account and his other social media accounts had been flooded with expressions of sadness and grief over Bowie's death.
"Bowie was the father of glam rock and the ancestor of those who have astounded the world," wrote Zheng.
Wang Feng, a rock star known to some as the husband of actress Zhang Ziyi, also posted about Bowie's passing on his Sina Weibo account.
"We not only lose an immortal master, but also an excellent soul that has made us gaze forever at the beauty of life," Wang wrote.
"Time is cruel," wrote singer and television celebrity Gao Xiaosong. "One after the other, the heroes of my youth disappear."
Steve Wong Ka Keung, who plays bass for the Hong Kong rock band Beyond, also wrote about Bowie.
"I will always remember you," wrote Wong.
Wu Hongjin, who is also known as Zuoxiao Zuzhou in the Chinese rock music scene, expressed his sadness on a more hopeful note.
"Maybe God wanted to listen to rock again," wrote Wu.
The iconic British musician died on Sunday, two days after his 69th birthday, according to a brief statement released by his family, as reported by Sina.com.
According to the statement, Bowie died peacefully on Jan. 10, surrounded by his family. His death ended his 18-month-long battle against cancer.
Bowie became a cultural icon, enjoying worldwide fame in a career that spanned six decades.
Born David Robert Jones, Bowie was born on Jan. 8, 1947 in Brixton, London. He formed his first band when he was only 15.
Bowie first gained fame when he released his second long play (LP) record "Space Oddity," which became an instant hit.
Bowie was also known for hits like "Let's Dance," "Starman," "Modern Love," "Heroes," "Under Pressure," "Rebel Rebel" and "Life on Mars." He was also known for his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
On Bowie's birthday, he had just released his latest album, "Blackstar."