Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Ten good Samaritans were awarded by Xianghzou District, Zhuhai, on Aug 31, in a ceremony attended by 600 distinguished guests.

An evening party commending Xiangzhou moral models held on Aug 31

Xu Yaosheng, 46, a farmer living on Qianshan Street, Xiangzhou, saved 18 lives in a heavy flood on May 22. A strong storm had raised flood levels to up to 2.6 m in low-lying areas, and though unable to swim, Xu, carrying a plastic bucket, was able to rescue five families trapped by the rising waters. He was also included in the China Good Samaritans list.

The awards were given to nine other citizens from all walks of life such as volunteers, doctors, police officers and teachers.

The ceremony was accompanied by sing and dance performances staged by local art troupes.

Children present bouquets of flowers for moral model representatives. [Photos / zhxz.gov.cn]

The ceremony, held to award those in society who display the very best attributes and who are models to others, has been held in Xiangzhou District since 2013.

So far, 159 moral models have been officially recognized through a combining process of recommendation, online voting and reviews, among who 13 have been nationally acknowledged as well as 63 named as models at a municipal or provincial level.

Some of the real-life stories have been adapted into dramatic works to inspire others in society.