He's a Swedish poet, and the Chinese know it

Swedish poet Thomas Transtromer is arguably the best-known Nobel literature laureate in Chinese poetry circles.

Transtromer has visited the country twice since 1984 and established close friendships with some of his Chinese counterparts, including his first Chinese translator, "Misty School" poet Bei Dao, and his Chinese translator, poet Li Li.

Two days before the Dec 10 Nobel award ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall, poets, translators and college students in Beijing gathered at Renmin University of China for a reading of Transtromer's poetry. More than 40 of his works were recited in Chinese, Swedish and English.