Wang Yong, a primary school teacher in Yongdian town's Beigou village of the Kuandian Manchu autonomous county, Liaoning province, was nominated as China's most beautiful countryside teacher on Chinese Teachers' Day on Sept 10.

A campaign named "Looking for China's Most Beautiful Countryside Teacher" was launched on June 17, co-hosted by Guangming Daily and Beijing Broadcasting and Television Station. Names of the 100 nominees were publicized at www.gmw.cn for netizens to select the ten "most beautiful countryside teachers in China". The results will be released on Sept 8 before China's 2011 Teachers' Day.

The 46-year-old Wang Yong has being rowing his students across the river for school since 1990. Guangming Daily reported his dedicated teaching life on July 13 and his story was spread to a nationwide audience.

Edited by Clark Cahill