An 80-year-old man from China’s Zhejiang province has dedicated his life to helping more than 700 abandoned and homeless children since 1979.

Wang Wanlin, who never married nor had children of his own, provided food, shelter, and support to those in need, earning netizens' admiration and cheers.

As reported by South China Morning Post, Wang’s journey began at 34 when he rescued a 15-year-old boy who had been tricked into forced labor in a coal mine.

He took the boy home and bought him a train ticket to reunite with his family.

“His life might have fallen into the darker side if he had met bad people at a young age. I needed to pull him back,” Wang recalled of the encounter with his first rescue in an interview with Phoenix TV.

Over the years, he continued to take in wandering children, using his monthly salary to feed them and help them return home.

Some, like Yu Hui, a boy from a poor rural village, stayed longer.

Wang encouraged Yu to pursue education, leading him to a stable career in Shanghai. He is now managing director of a beauty parlor in the city.

After learning that Wang is now living alone, Yu chose to live with his "father" to take care of him.

He also shared Wang’s story online in 2022, inspiring thousands of netizens who said he has the "biggest heart."

Wang’s kindness stems from his own hardships. Wrongfully accused of theft, he was sentenced to 16 years of labor reform before being released in 1978.

Despite his past, he chose to dedicate his life to others, at times housing up to 20 children in his small flat. #