Xi Jinping and his teachers

As an ancient civilization, China has a long-standing tradition of honoring teachers, tracing back to Confucius who is hailed as "Model teacher of a myriad of ages".

Teachers hold a special status in Xi Jinping's heart. Recalling his years at school, Xi said he was grateful for what he learned from his teachers.

"I have received instruction from many teachers. They taught me knowledge as well as how to be an upright person, which has benefited me enormously," he said.

Xi began his middle school years in 1965 at the Beijing Bayi School.

Xi liked the Chinese lessons, and he was deeply moved by his teacher Chen Qiuying's lectures on the works of Du Fu, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Under Chen's influence, Xi fell in love with the poems of Du which are full of overwhelming compassion for the people's miseries, and developed a strong interest in Chinese classics.

In Chen's eyes, Xi was a calm and inquisitive student who often asked her questions about literature after class.

After graduating from the Bayi School, Xi has remained in contact with his teachers.

Whenever Xi has time, he would go to visit his old teachers. Sometimes, he would send Chen his books, and sometimes, he would send her flowers.

In 1999, Chen sent Xi her new book on fairy tales. Xi wrote a letter in reply, saying "You were my teacher, are my teacher, and will always be my teacher".

In 2006, Xi, then-Party chief of Zhejiang province, met with Chen who was on a tour to Hangzhou on weekend, and booked a return flight ticket for Chen with his own money.

Chen Zhonghan was a teacher of Xi at the Bayi School. He said that, over the years, no matter what position Xi held, he always remembered his teachers. In Chen's eyes, "Xi is a grateful and compassionate person".

In September 2016, Xi went back to his alma mater and expressed his gratitude to Chen, among other teachers.

"You were strict with us. But in retrospect, I benefited from your teachings for life," Xi said to his former teachers.

In a speech at the 2018 national education meeting, Xi highlighted education as a "fundamental" factor in China's cause of national rejuvenation.

"Teachers are the engineers of the human soul and disseminators of human civilization. They are tasked with the mission of the times — to spread knowledge, ideas and truth," Xi said.