Hainan bibliophile opens private library to public

Feng Huijun, a 56-year old communist living in Wanning, Hainan province, has made the private library he collected throughout 40 years available to the public.

The 30-sq-m library is filled by two full 2-m bookcases leaning against the wall, encompassing more than 13,000 picture-story books, documents of Party meetings, magazines and sheets of newspapers.

Feng said that he has no intention of making money. He just wants to spread knowledge and benefit the public.

His income -- generated by offering art courses, and selling couplets and wedding supplies -- is spent on the 20,000-yuan ($2,921) annual rent for the library and the purchase of new books and newspapers.

Driven by the passion for knowledge and art he has had since he was young, Feng worked industriously on painting, calligraphy and literature in the past 40 years and won many awards in national competitions.

He regards reading and collecting books not only as a way to cultivate himself, but also as a channel to communicate with people who love literature and art.

Born into a poor family, Feng keeps an eye on children who have a zeal for art but are in financial difficulties.

He has been teaching five to six children calligraphy and painting for free, as well as giving them books, since 2014. This summer, he waived tuition of 6,000 yuan for five kids.

In 2017, Feng was elected as one of the "Top 10 Wanning Persons of the Year" and was honored as being part of the "1st Scholarly Family in Hainan Province".