A barbecue stall owner from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has supported the education of more than 200 underprivileged children in Bijie, Guizhou province, in the past decade.

The man, 39, came to Bijie in 2000 to make a living after he retired from the army.

In the past 10 years, he has donated about 100,000 yuan (US$15,000) to the families of the poor children, 10 of whom have gone on to enter college.

The man lives in a 20-square-meter rented apartment and makes money selling mutton skewers on the streets.

He was awarded an honorary title by the government of Guizhou province last month.