Visitors learn about Lei Feng's story at the Lei Feng Memorial Hall. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing)

On the guest book at the Lei Feng Memorial Hall in Wangcheng District, Changsha, there are many messages left by visitors from around the world to present their admiration for Lei Feng.

Lei Feng, born in a poor farmer's family in Hunan's Wangcheng, had devoted himself to serving the people in his 22-year lifetime. In 1963, Chairman Mao Zedong called upon the nation to learn from Lei Feng, and since then March 5 has been designated as "Lei Feng Day" every year. For more than half a century, Lei Feng Spirit has been passed on from generation to generation in China.

More and more foreigners know about Lei Feng and his stories, and learn from him.

Kindergarten kids visit the Lei Feng Memorial Hall. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing)

Uwe Brutzer and Dorothee, known by Changsha locals as Wu Zhengrong and Du Xuehui, visited the Lei Feng Memorial Hall when they just came to Changsha. "Lei inspired us to help others selflessly. He is a model for us to follow," they said. When leaving the hall, they happened to see a bus broken down at the roadside. And they joined in helping push it.

In the past two decades, they have been dedicated to assisting people with disabilities around Hunan Province, and opened a bakery that hires deaf people and teaches them bread-making free of charge. They are deemed as "living Lei Feng". "We just hope every people can do something to help others, just like what Lei Feng did," Uwe Brutzer said.

Today, "Lei Feng" is not only a name, but has become a spirit, a phenomenon, and a culture recognized by the world.

Students salute Lei Feng at the memorial hall. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing)

Martin Haase, a big fan of traditional Chinese medicine, has lived in China for 15 years with his Hunanese wife. He encountered a "Lei Feng" hen he just came to China. "A restaurateur near my college made friends with me. He voluntarily taught me Chinese mandarine. When I was ill, she cooked soup for me, which really touched me," he said.

Martin saw many photos of Lei Feng across China. "My classmates told me that Lei Feng is a good man who helped others selflessly. In my life in China, many Chinese people helped me." In his eyes, Chinese volunteers are living Lei Fengs.

In the new era, Lei Feng Spirit has being carried forward throughout China in the form of volunteer service. There are more than 100 million registered volunteers in China, and March 5 has been also designated as "Youth Volunteer Service Day".

Message left by a foreign visitor at the Lei Feng Memorial Hall. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing)

Mr. Ogino, first director of the Hunan Office of the Lake Biwa Travel Promotion Association, was born on March 5. "I feel some ties with Lei Feng, so I read books about his life," he said, adding that Lei Feng Spirit shares something common with the altruism and philanthropism.

Samuel is an Ethiopian student studying at the Hunan Agricultural University. Lei Feng for him is a hard-working and helpful figure in Chinese students' writings.

"Chinese people are kind and modest, always prepare to offer help just as Lei Feng did," he said. For him, China's assistance to African countries embodies Lei Feng Spirit.

In recent years, more than 30,000 foreigners visited the Lei Feng Memorial Hall. Many of them were international students. Pakistan youth delegation members and Australian officials also visited. "We introduce Lei Feng as a pioneer of Chinese volunteer service, and a world-famous volunteer, to make foreign visitors better understand him," said Zhang Luqi, a chief guide of the memorial hall. Volunteer service is booming in China, which is a carrier and expression of Lei Feng Spirit in the new era.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: chinanews