Yao to dedicate more time to helping schools

Former NBA star Yao Ming said he wants to be more than just a philanthropist who raises money. He wants to volunteer more of his time to good causes.

After attending the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March, where he was a member of the CPPCC National Committee, the sporting superstar stayed for a fortnight, for instance, with students at the Sela Marriott - Yao Foundation Hope Primary School in the Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province, located at 4,000 meters above the sea level in Southwest China.

He said he really enjoyed getting to know the young people, many of whom are from Tibetan farmer or herdsman families.