A Chinese-American's China complex

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-06-19 19:46

Born in Huadu County, Guangdong Province, Liu Guolie went to the United States with his father at the age of 6. He says he had a rather tough childhood there and didn't get much of school education. With money borrowed from his uncle, Liu opened his first retail store in his twenties and by the 1960s expanded his business to five supermarkets.

As a successful entrepreneur, Liu never forgot his homeland and started to give back to China by making donations towards animal protection and education.

Up to now, Liu has helped build over 40 schools around China, most of which are primary schools in remote areas. He has established two foundations and is still trying to help build more schools.

Liu Guolie (R) receives a bunch of flowers at the launching ceremony of a school building at a village primary school in Guangshui, Central China's Hubei Province, in this photo taken on April 6, 2008. [File Photo]

The massive earthquake that hit Sichuan Province May 12 affected Liu profoundly. Apart from donating money to the victims, he is also preparing to give them a hand by constructing clinics in the quake area. Now living in San Francisco, Liu recently came back to China to attend the opening ceremony of one the schools he helped renovate in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Chinadaily.com.cn thanks Mr. Liu for giving us the opportunity to chat with him during his short visit to Beijing.