guo mingyi's career started with him joining the army in 1977. he became a member of the communist party of china in 1980 and was demobilised from the army in 1982. he started work for angang/anshan iron and steel group working at qidashan mine, just north of anshan. he was noted for his diligence and commitment to work, as well as his philanthropic works. these included attending his work two hours early every day for 15 years, many blood donations, campaigns to find bone marrow donors for children with leukemia and donating significant amounts of money to fund poor children's education, despite his own low earnings. he continues to live with his family in a single room, 40 square metre apartment that he first moved into in the 1980s. he has been offered improved accommodation but passed it up so that other colleagues could get better housing. for these acts, from 2010 onwards he has received many national level awards.