BEIJING, Feb. 12, 2016 -- File photo taken on Oct. 15, 2011 shows artist Yan Su saluting the audience after winning Lifetime Achievement Award of China Theatre Award. Yan Su, a prominent dramatist and songwriter of thePeople's Liberation Army(PLA), died of illness on Feb. 12, 2016 at the age of 86. Yan wrote lyrics for lots of famous songs, including "Dare to ask where is the road", the theme song of TV series "Journey to the West" that was adapted from the classic novel of the same title and broadcast in China in 1986. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

BEIJING, Feb. 18 -- Over 10,000 Chinese people on Thursday joined the family and friends of Yan Su at a memorial service for the late dramatist and songwriter.

The service was held at the Babaoshan funeral center in west Beijing.

Yan, an artist of the People's Liberation Army, died at the age of 86 on Feb. 12. He felt into a coma state in September after finishing work for the Beijing gala marking the the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the war against Japanese aggression.

Yan left behind more than 1,000 art pieces, including the popular theme song of TV series "Journey to the West" in the 1980s.