A Chinese man, who published excerpts of his diary online describing his last months alive, has died of cancer.

Lu Youqing provoked controversy in China by writing frankly about his incurable cancer. Traditionally death is treated with deference in China, and Lu Youqing was writing very publicly about his illness.

He published his diary on paper, but also put sections up online at Rongshu.com. His family has distributed 100,000 copies of the book in Shanghi after its publication last month.

Fans have posted messages of sympathy on the site's bulleting board. One said: "If a person lives with real emotion, then there should be no regret at their death."

Lu said that he wanted to leave the book as a memorial and also as a way of continuing to support his wife and child after his death. ®