Dorian Murray, 8, passed away on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. Provided to China Daily

People in China and around the world have offered condolences online as the news spread that 8-year-old Dorian Murray had died after a long battle with cancer.

"I believe there is a Great Wall in heaven and now he is walking on it happily," wrote a netizen called Sunshine.

Dorian, of Westerly, Rhode Island, in the United States, was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer when he was 4. After cancer cells spread to his spine and brain a few months ago, he and his family decided to stop his chemotherapy treatment so he could enjoy his remaining time.

He captured the hearts of people in China after he told his parents his wish "before going to heaven" was to be famous in the country "because they have that bridge," which is what he called the Great Wall.

Dorian's wish, which was posted by his parents in early January on Facebook, along with the request that someone in China send a picture to Dorian with the sign "#D-Strong", spread quickly across China and around the world.

Tens of thousands of Chinese posted the story on Chinese social media, and many went to the Great Wall holding signs saying, "You are very famous in China".

Even one day recently, a woman shared photos on her Chinese micro blog of herself on the Great Wall holding a sign: "Dorian STRONG. You are famous here. Welcome to China!"

"Though it's been two months since he had the dream, I'm here. I'm at the top of the Great Wall to make his dream come true," she wrote.

In the past two months, Dorian and his family had also been invited to visit China, but they declined due to the boy's declining health.

Thousands reacted to the news of his death.

"We are thankful for your life and the strength you brought to us. You earned everyone's respect. Wish you have a long and beautiful dream, so long and beautiful that you don't want to wake up," a woman posted on her micro blog.

Dorian's death was announced late on Tuesday night on the Praying for Dorian Facebook page, which had documented his struggle with cancer and used the hashtag "#dstrong".

Kathryn Thomas, a close friend of the Murray family who posted the announcement of Dorian's death on Facebook, also wrote that the family asked for "privacy and respect" as they grieve.

"I'm not ready," his mother, Melissa Murray, posted on Tuesday morning before he died. "But, I never will be."

Contact the writers at linshujuan@chinadaily.com.cn