Famous writer, Yu Guangzhong (2nd from left) and his wife (3rd from right) cut the birthday cake during a party arranged by friends to celebrate Yu's 80th birthday on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008. [cnsphoto]

About one hundred writers and friends gathered in Taipei on Thursday to celebrate the 80th birthday of renowned writer Yu Guangzhong, the China News Service reports.

Taiwan's new leader Ma Ying-jeou also sent a sheet of silk scroll inscribed with his handwriting to congratulate Yu on his birthday.

At the birthday party the famous poet said that having so many friends with him made him feel even happier than being awarded a Nobel Prize. He also noted that being accepted by one's own nation is the happiest thing for a writer.

Yu also introduced his latest poetry collection, "Ou Shen", literally "Lotus Goddess" during the party. He mentioned it was inspired by the "lotus goddess" temple erected for Li Qingzhao, a famous female poet of the Song Dynasty, when he visited the Daming Lake during his trip to Ji Nan city in east China's Shandong Province.

Born in 1928, Yu Guangzhong is one of the best-known of modern Chinese writers, literary critics and translators.

So far, this prolific writer has published 19 poetry collections and a dozen of prose collections.

Since the 1970s, Yu Guangzhong has written a number of poems expressing Taiwan people's nostalgia for their homeland and family members on the mainland. These have deeply touched the hearts of many Chinese people.

Mr Yu said he would travel to Nanjing city, his birthplace, with his wife on October 5th. His former school in Nanjing will publish a poetry collection for him.

(CRI October 4, 2008)