A farewell ceremony for renowned Chinese scientist Qian Weichang, who was also the former president of Shanghai university, begins in Shanghai on Saturday.

Qian Weichang passed away last Friday, and his death has been met with nationwide grief. His body will be cremated at Longhua funeral Parlor.

Tens of thousands of students and people from all walks of life are expected to attend the ceremony to pay their final tribute to the former president of the university. When he died at the age of 98, Qian was one of the greatest scientists of china.

He was a specialist in applied mathematics, mechanics, physics, engineering science and Chinese information processing.

Qian was widely acknowledged as one of the founders of modern mechanics in China. He was a distinguished educator and social activist, and was also a great leader of the China Democratic League and a close friend of Chinese Communist Party.