"I want to be a teacher here forever": 56-year-old teacher Jiang Tongying has been working in the rural area of SW China's Guizhou for 37 years.

GUIYANG, Sept. 9, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Jiang Tongying is a 56-year-old teacher of Dong ethnic group in Hua'ao primary school where he has been working since 1982. Though some young teachers joined him to teach, they eventually left because of tough living condition or inconvenient transportation.

From 2013 on, the school saw less and less number of pupils as locals went out as migrant workers or relocated to better places. Now with only 11 first or second graders and 10 kindergarten children in the school, Jiang keeps teaching them together. For 37 years, Jiang has taught children while taking care of their daily life. "I love kids here and I want to be a teacher here forever." He said.

Jiang Tongying escorts children back home after school at Hua'ao Village in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying plays games with children on a grassland near Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June. 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying teaches Chinese at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying plays games with children at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying has lunch with children at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying answers a child's question at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying (3rd L) visits a family of a student at Hua'ao Village in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June. 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying registers samples of children's lunch at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying escorts children back home after school at Hua'ao Village in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Jiang Tongying helps a child write at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Aerial Photo taken on Sept. 6, 2019 shows Jiang Tongying and Children attending a flag-rising ceremony at Hua'ao primary school in Jianhe County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)