This is the story of Tang Wenxiang, a teacher, now retired, at Hunan Radio and TV University (Hunan RTVU).

Now in his 70s, Tang has unexpectedly become a “senior cyberstar" whose story has been reported in media outlets such as CCTV, Hunan Satellite TV, and Xiaoxiang Morning News.

Tang Wenxiang has kept a record of his experiences in 171 different scrapbooks covering 55 years – a quantity of material even he finds shocking. He has never stopped writing and collecting, and believes that one is never too old to learn.

His "Family Museum" Treasures

His greatest pride, however, is what he calls his "family museum", a rich collection in a space too small for more than three people, and including all kinds of Chairman Mao badges neatly arranged against the background of the Party flag. Among the collections, we found an iron box containing a red Hunan RTVU badge, a manuscript on Hunan RTVU letterhead, and an album containing old photos of the school.

Never forget

Since his retirement, Tang Wenxiang has continued to follow the development of Hunan RTVU. He once suggested that the school organise a programme of mutual aid among student volunteers and retired teachers. “The volunteers can provide physical help to retired teachers, who in turn can pass along what they have learned to the students, and also provide them with materials.” His proposal was quickly adopted by Hunan RTVU.

Student volunteers help him in their spare time, and visit his family museum, flip through old photos, and listen to him to talk about the past.
Tang Wenxiang once gave the volunteers seven books he had written to encourage them to concentrate on their studies. He has often told them, "Focus on doing what you are able to. It is harder to understand what you cannot do well than to know what you can."

Tang Wenxiang’s belief in lifelong learning has inspired the students of Hunan RTVU to make constant progress and to think of life as a continual process of learning.

By Liu Jiao, Hunan RTVU