Yang, on the other hand, firmed up his resolve to seek out and help other students in need. During the first few years as a teacher, he donated a chunk of his paltry salary of less than 2,000 yuan a month to pay for tuition of underprivileged children.

"To teach is to touch a life forever. Being a teacher means caring about your students, holding their hands and helping them overcome life's many challenges," he says.

As word about his noble mission spread, wealthy philanthropists extended a helping hand. Yang traveled long distances, negotiated perilous mountain roads and even cheated death a few times to find children who needed support to continue their education.

On one occasion, when he was riding his motorcycle to a student's house, located 1,400 meters above sea level, the two-wheeler careened off the road and he almost fell off a cliff. "It was raining and the trail was slippery. Guardrails on the edge of the cliff saved me," he recalls.

Tian Chun, a former student, says he will never forget what Yang did for him more than a decade ago. "I was 15 and had dropped out of school because my family couldn't pay my tuition fee. The teacher visited me and said all I needed to do was focus on studying while he would take care of the rest."

Yang kept his word. Today, Tian is pursuing postdoctoral studies at Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, because Yang ensured he finished school. "He (Yang) was my guardian angel. I admire his selfless devotion to poor students who live in the mountains," Tian says.

Yang left his teaching job in 2009 and became a poverty alleviation officer in Xiche village of Longshan county, but he never stopped caring for children in need. "In fact, I took the new job because I knew it would help me bring students back to school," he explains.

Since June, Yang has been in charge of promoting civic amenities in Longshan county. "It is good to see the standard of living improve in rural areas. I still keep an eye out for students who might need my help," he says.