Yu Lihua, a Chinese novelist who lived in the United States, died at the age of 89 on May 1.

Born in Shanghai in 1931, Yu went to the United States in 1953 to study and later settled down in Maryland.

As a former international student, most of her literary works are related to the life of the Chinese in the United States.

"She has incorporated the experiences of international students into the novel in a very detailed way, including the loneliness, the psychology of wanting to make friends, the discrimination and infighting they face in the process of study and job hunting, etc., which resonates strongly with many," said Fu Shiling, president of Chinese Writers Association in the U.S.

Yu Lihua's writing kept pace with times, from studying abroad to settling down later. Her novels reflect her struggles and efforts in career-building and marriage.

Yu has also written about the experiences and struggles of American-born Chinese (ABC) in many of her works. Many of the conditions described in her works are still the subject of much concern for the living conditions of Chinese in the U.S.

In recent years, Yu had been keeping an eye on the literary career in China. She often communicated with young writers and encouraged them to keep writing. 

"Young writers should not be in a hurry to become famous. They should read more world classics and Chinese classics so as to have a solid foundation," she said.