Chinese fans have clearly been anticipating the moment when Leonard DiCaprio would receive his long-due Academy Award statue.

Even though at least two online streaming sites - iQiyi and Douyu TV - suddenly cancelled their live broadcast of the Oscars on Monday, and some - including the state-run online movie portal m1905.com - were implementing a 15-minute time delay, DiCaprio's fans made it a point not to miss the ceremony.

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As soon as the Oscars winners were announced, social media sites in China were taken by storm. Even the major media organizations such as the Chinese Communist Party official newspaper People's Daily and the state-backed Global Times hailed the actor and sent their congratulations for his victory via Weibo.

After being nominated five times over more than two decades, DiCaprio finally bagged the Best Actor award this year for his role in The Revenant.

DiCaprio, who is known by Chinese Internet users as "Xiao Lizi" or "Little Lee," became one of the popular names in the mainland after he starred in the romantic movie Titanic in 1998. The popular movie surpassed the country's then-box-office record. His 2010 science fiction heist thriller Inception, which was named the second largest Hollywood earner next to Avatar, also made him a known face in China.

Unlike other Hollywood celebrities, DiCaprio has captured the hearts of the Chinese netizens.

Even though The Revenant is yet to be released in China, Chinese social media users joined DiCaprio in celebrating the role that got him the Best Actor award.

"If they don't give him the golden statue, China will be swallowed up by the ground tomorrow," one Weibo user wrote.

TagsLeonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant, #Oscar2016, Chinese fans, Little Lee, People's Daily Newspaper, Global Times