Children from 10 families across China honored for filial piety

Shi Peihao, an 11-year-old from Northwest China's Gansu province, recently became a local celebrity following an annual event to honor youth who best display the traditional value of filial piety.

Shi was honored alongside teenagers from nine other families as one of the Ten Most Filial Youngsters of 2020, an award presented by China Media Group in association with the Youth Sports Program Center.

The ceremony, hosted by veteran anchors Bai Yansong and Ju Ping, was held earlier last month. The awards were presented by a slew of celebrities, including astronaut Yang Liwei, composer Gu Jianfen and Olympic gold medalist Yang Yang.

The ceremony was broadcast on CCTV-1 and CCTV-14, and several of CCTV's digital platforms.

"I've received praise from a lot of people when they encounter me on the street," Shi says.

"That makes me happy."

During last year's summer vacation, the primary school student in Minqin town came to help his grandfather harvest honeydews. The boy knows every part of the farming process, from irrigation to packaging.

A tourist filmed him working in the field and posted the clip on the popular social media platform, Pear Video.

The short video quickly went viral, garnering tens of thousands of "likes" and even boosting sales of local honeydews on e-commerce platforms.

Shi started helping his father and grandfather cultivate the melons when he was 6 years old.

The boy, who has become strong through practicing taekwondo, volunteers for one of the most tiring jobs－throwing the melons into truck beds.

"I also water the vines, chop wood and tend the fire in my grandparents' home," he says.

"My favorite chore there is feeding the sheep. Sometimes, I talk with them, and they bleat at me. We're like friends."

Shi also helps his parents with housework. He cooks, washes dishes and sweeps the floor. The boy believes he has a responsibility toward the whole family.

"Our class teacher, Miss Yu, told us to do so. And my parents do the same for their parents, too," Shi says.

"Actually, all of my classmates help their families."