Legacy of service lives on
International students in China embrace Lei Feng's legacy through acts of service, cultural exchanges, and shared values of kindness and dedication.
Editor's note: Liaoning is where Lei Feng (1940-1962), a soldier and national icon, lived and served. The province has preserved his spirit through memorials, educational sites, and annual "Learning from Lei Feng" activities at universities on March 5, Lei Feng Day, to honor his legacy. This special report explores how young people continue to uphold and share his ideals across cultures.
In the week leading up to Lei Feng Day, Liaodong College in Dandong, Liaoning, was quieter than usual, as more than 3,000 students had set out to volunteer in communities, schools, and public spaces, offering their help in various ways.
In the library, dozens of volunteers were hard at work — some sorting through recently returned books, while others wiped dust from the shelves.
"These books are covered in dust and some pages are even stuck together," said Li Ziming, a freshman. "When I think about the students who will read them in the future, I feel like I'm passing on a baton of knowledge."
Meanwhile, a group of students carrying toolboxes went door to door in the community, fixing appliances for residents. Liu Lei, the group leader and a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, explained that their professional courses focused on large machinery, so they had to teach themselves how to repair small household appliances. But for them, the effort was well worth it.
"Seeing the smiles on residents' faces when they get their 'revived' appliances back is more satisfying than winning a scholarship," he said.
Students majoring in humanities and education visited Dandong Chunying School, an elementary school, where they played games with the children and shared stories about Lei Feng.
When one child asked why Lei Feng gave his food to others, Wang Tianbo, an education major, explained, "Lei Feng had a loving heart — he wanted everyone to be happy."
Medical students volunteered at Dongyao community, measuring blood pressure and offering health advice to residents.
"Many elderly people didn't know how to use smartphones to make doctor's appointments, so we taught them step by step," said Chen Jian, a junior.
"One grandmother was so excited after learning how to do it that she said, 'Finally, I don't have to queue at the hospital at 4 am anymore.' That moment gave me a real sense of accomplishment," she added.
As night fell and most volunteers returned to campus after their day of service, students from the School of Arts were just beginning their work. At the campus radio station, they were recording a special program, Revisiting Lei Feng's Diary.
"Today, I helped an old woman push her cart," read Lin Wenyang, a broadcasting major, presenting Lei Feng's words to a modern audience.
"Learning from Lei Feng isn't just a tradition for March — it should be part of our daily lives," said Zhou Yuyang, a sophomore biotechnology major.
After finishing her community work, Zhou immediately signed up for the school's E-Civilization Guardians project to become an online civility monitor.
"If Lei Feng were alive today, he'd definitely be dedicated to promoting civility in cyberspace," she said. "Being an 'online Lei Feng' is pretty cool too."