Yu Hua (余华) was born on 3 April 1960 in Hangzhou, in the Zhejiang province of China.

As one of China’s most prominent contemporary authors, Yu Hua has established a significant international reputation, thanks in part to his frequent appearances at meetings and book fairs and the many literary awards he has received. His most celebrated works include Huózhe (活着; To Live), which won both the Grinzane Cavour Prize and the Giuseppe Acerbi Prize and became famous for the film adaptation by the director Zhang Yimou.