Although people come to pay homage in different ways, the majority share one thing in common: They have all read In Memory of Norman Bethune, an article written by Mao Zedong following the medic's death in 1939.

"I think Bethune is the most famous foreign friend to China and, although Kotnis is not as famous, they both made great contributions," said He Liming, 30, who works in a nearby supermarket and quoted Mao's article by adding: "They 'made light of traveling thousands of miles to help us'."

Every year, she comes to visit the tombs for Tomb-sweeping Day. "They were great people. Hopefully, they can bring me some good luck as well," she added.

Call to protect memory of brave pilots

American pilots and Chinese soldiers killed in battle against the invading Japanese airforce during World War II were buried in the woods of Puzhao village, Yunnan province, more than half a century ago. However, their tombs were virtually undiscovered until 2007, when the Yunnan Flying Tigers Research Institution found them by following clues included in The Aluminum Trail, a book written in 1989 by Chick Marrs Quinn.

About 300 pilots with the Fei Hu, or "Flying Tigers" - the nickname given to the 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force - and 500 Chinese soldiers are buried at the site, which was built beside a nunnery in 1943 in the northeastern suburbs of Kunming, the provincial capital, said Sun Guansheng, chairman of the institution.

The tombs were "lost" when they were moved to make way for a storehouse either in the late 1940s or early 1950s, and since then, the memorial has not been properly protected, experts say .

"Some of the graves have been robbed and some have sunken," said Sun. "Many tombstones carrying names of the dead pilots and soldiers were even used to build a reservoir in the 1950s. Exposed to the wind and the rain, what is left of the Flying Tigers cemetery is bleak."

"We are calling on the authorities to take measures to effectively protect this vital and historic site."

The tombs in Puzhao are about 4 km from Wujiaba Airport, the former air base of the Flying Tigers, most of whose names have since been forgotten.

The group, which was led by United States General Claire L. Chennault, was formed on Aug 1, 1941, to help China fight off invading Japanese troops and later absorbed into the US Air Force 23 Fighter Group, part of 14th Air Force. Their planes were recognizable for the shark's teeth painted on the nose, while the pilots were revered for their courage and skill in battle.

Many Chinese now call all US pilots who flew with the 14th Air Force in World War II "Flying Tigers".

Li Shan, a Kunming resident who read about the tombs, took her 7-year-old son to see the cemetery as she wants him to learn more about the history.

"We've now put a tombstone in the graveyard for people who come and pay their respects, but we should build a better cemetery to honor those who helped us during the war," said Sun.

Author still a big hit on campus

Ask any student on Peking University's campus in Beijing where to find the tomb of Edgar Snow (1905-1972) and nine out of 10 will not only point you in the right direction, but also probably give you a brief history lesson on the life and works of the prominent American journalist.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, the scribe and former teacher at the university is best remembered for his book Red Star Over China, which introduced the Chinese Communist movement in early 1920s to late 1930s to domestic and overseas readers. He was also the first Western journalist to interview China's former leader Mao Zedong.

"I know every year there will be a few essays about him written by our students," said Sun Hua, director of the university's Chinese center for Edgar Snow studies. "Some seniors also made a documentary film about him."

Following his death in Geneva, Switzerland, half of Snow's ashes were flown to China. The original plan was to bury them in Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, which is reserved for national heroes. "However, his family thought it was better to have his tomb on campus because he loved to hang out with young Chinese people," said Sun.

The site of his tomb, which is on a slope south of the university's Weiming Lake, is close to the recently renovated Tan Siu Lin center for international studies, where Snow taught journalism in the early 1930s. His tombstone reads "Edgar Snow, American friend of the Chinese people" in English and Chinese.

"He is a reporter with a conscience. He deserves a Pulitzer prize," said Li Yuming, 29, a Beijing legal professional who visited the writer's tomb after reading his works. "When I went to his tomb, no one was there, just a bunch of dried flowers. It's a desolate scene but I think people like Snow are still remembered."

She is right. Apart from the Chinese center for Edgar Snow studies, the author continues to be an inspiration to students and scholars nationwide.