Photos of the principal of a renowned Chinese university tearfully hugging his mother while on his knees for 10 minutes at her 90th birthday party have spread like wildfire on the Internet, triggering mixed opinions from netizens.

Zhou Qifeng (周其凤), president of Peking University, made his overt display of familial affection while relatives bawled with him, at the birthday party event in his hometown Liuyang, Hunan province, last Friday.

The emotionally exuberant Qifeng told his mom he was sorry he could not return home to celebrate her 80th birthday due to his busy work schedule a decade ago.

Qifeng’s mother raised Qifeng and his three brothers on her own after her husband died.

While some praised him for his filial devotion, many netizens criticized Qifeng for showing off and making a meal out of what should have been a private party and adding he “should be aware of his sensitive position.”

One of his friends clarified the misunderstanding, saying Qifeng did not invite any reporters or photographers and did not even tell his colleagues he was returning for his mom’s birthday.

The photos were uploaded by a friend, an avid amateur photographer.

“China has only one Peking University. Peking University has only one president, who has only one mom. His mom has only one 90th birthday. Let Zhou Qifeng kneel down and cry in front of his mom once,” wrote his friend, pleading for netizens not to make public a private matter.