Zhi Yueying. [Photo by Deng Jia/Asianewsphoto]

Zhi Yueying

Zhi Yueying is a rural school teacher in Fengxin county, Jiangxi province.

In 1980, the 19-year-old from provincial capital Nanchang became a teacher in a rural school despite objections from her family. She believes education gives children, who have limited exposure to the outside world, a tool to dream about their future.

Though she has reached the retirement age for women in China, Zhi has decided to continue teaching in the rural school.