Chen Qianshui rides his bicycle to visit people in Quanzhou, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"There is retirement as an official, but there is no retirement as a member of the Communist Party of China." This is the motto of Chen Qianshui, 76. 

"I was honored to attend the grand gathering at Tian'anmen Square to celebrate the Party's centenary. I felt the greatness of the Party and I'm confident in our party's future. I hope I can continue to contribute to the second centenary goal," Chen said. 

Chen was honored as a National Outstanding Party Member on June 28 and invited to attend the grand gathering in Beijing on July 1. He is one of 95 million Party members. 

Born into a poor farming family in 1945, Chen was taught by his parents to be independent and hardworking. Chen started working for the Disabled Persons' Federation of Quanzhou in Fujian province at the age of 37. His main job centered on helping the people with disabilities. He would ride his bicycle to visit residents in Quanzhou's rural Puan county. 

During the Chinese New Year celebration in 1992, Chen was visiting an 80-year-old surnamed Gao, who was blind and lived alone. Chen bought him fish and meat. 

That was also the year that Chen started to visit the disabled on New Year's day.