17 years' teaching life in a remote village in Qinghai

Li Yongnian, 47, teaches in a village, in Hualong County, a state-level poverty-stricken county in northwest China's Qinghai province. As the only teacher for the 24 students in school, he teaches all the courses including Chinese, mathematics, art, sports and music. He has taught more than 400 students in 17 years. Of them, some have entered universities, some work in big cities. With monthly salary of only $240, Li has never complained. "I like the students to call me teacher. That means everything to me. I feel happy with the poor condition," Li said. "I hope that more students can receive education and go out of the village. Like a candle, I would like to burn myself for a brighter future of my students."