Decades ago, the late Premier Zhou Enlai's patch-ridden pajamas touched the heart of millions and it remains a constant reminder of frugality to the younger generation. His simple and frugal living style has been well carried on by Premier Wen Jiabao.

Premier Wen Jiabao is seen touring the countryside in east China's Shandong Province before the Spring Festival in Junuary,  2006. [Xinhua]

Without the proof of news photos, people would find it hard to believe that the premier of China wore the same winter coat on the New Year's Eve of 2006 that he did in the winter of 1995.

On January 30,2006, the second day of the Lunar New Year, in the forum of WWW.DZWWW.COM , a key journalism website in Shandong Province, a netizen named "Lao Qi" launched a thread titled "Premier came to the Shandong countryside again after 10 years, in the same winter coat!"

Lao Qi wrote in the thread, "I learned from Dazhong Daily that Premier Wen spent the Spring Festival with farmers in Heze and Jining counties on the New Year's Eve of 2006. While touched by the Premier's heartfelt care for his people, I found something familiar with the photo in the report. It suddenly hit upon me that Premier Wen was still wearing the same coat 10 years later!"

"...Ten years ago, in the winter of 1995, Wen, then an alternate member of the CPC Political Bureau, visited the Shouguang vegetable wholesale market in Shouguang, also wearing the coat seen in the photo," Lao Qi continued in his thread.

Wen Jiabao, then an alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, inspected a wholesale vegetable market in Shandong Province in 1995. [Xinhua]

At the end of the thread, Lao Qi attached two photos: one taken during his inspection in 1995, and the other on New Year's Eve of 2006. In both photos, Premier Wen wears the same coat, an old-fashioned green winter coat.

Lao Qi's thread, re-published in many newspapers and websites, including Xinhua.net and Sina.com, has received abundant replies from netizens, who have lavished their praises on Premier Wen.

"What lies behind Premier Wen's close relationship with his people is his love for the people. It is a kind of individual emotion and affinity," one post read.

In another post, a netizen said, "A salute to Premier Wen. He is just like my next door neighbor: a good and frugal neighbor."

In Xinhua.net, a 70-year-old netizen wrote, "I feel honored to have such a nice premier working for me in China. He gives hope to our country and people. I hope government leaders of all levels show care for people's life and do something for them."

Since the beginning in 2003, Premier Wen has spent the New Year's Eve with Chinese farmers for four consecutive years, leaving footprints in Liaoning, Henan, Shannxi, and Shandong provinces and deeply impressing local farmers.

In a village of Heze County, Premier Wen visited 80-year-old Guo Xiulan on the early morning of Janary 28, 2006. During his short stay there, Wen asked Guo about various aspects of life in the village, from food, clothing, and medical care to housing conditions.

Considering Guo's weak eyesight, he even urged the village leaders to prepare a bedpan and an inside toilet (in many villages, the toilets are usually outside the house) for Guo before leaving.

At the home of another old man -- Niu Jinhui, Premier shared dumplings with the family.

Niu said to Wen: "It must be inconvenient for you, as the premier, to spend the New Year with us farmers."

But to Niu's surprise, Premier Wen replied, "I feel happier and more satisfied, spending the New Year with you."

Back in early January of 2005, as the whole country was embracing a new beginning, Zhang Gewei was still immersed in the loss of her husband, who died in a deadly mine accident not long before.

On January 2, Premier Wen came to her family, bringing with him hearty comfort and care for her and her son.

"After listening to my husband's story, Premier Wen held my son's hands, with tears rolling down from his eyes. For a premier to cry for me was really surprising and very touching," Zhang recalled.