At the beginning of 2008, both Wang and Tang left their teaching careers in other cities and returned to their hometown to open the first kindergarten in Chunmuying Township in Xuan'en County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Previously, local children had no access to preschool education in the remote area with an average altitude of 1,800 meters. 

The two of them managed to raise nearly 400,000 yuan ($63,000) towards the project. Their work paid off when the kindergarten opened its doors in autumn 2009. Currently, it has 14 staff and more than 190 students in attendance.

The main task facing Wang and Tang now is to provide logistical support to guarantee the kindergarten operates well, as opposed to teaching classes as they did before. They get up before 5 a.m. and traverse the rugged mountain road to pick up children in the morning, and sent them back one by one after class.

"Bringing education to such a remote area brings a sense of responsibility," Wang said. "No matter how hard it is, we will spare no effort to provide better preschool education as much as we can."

A BRAND NEW DAY: The Chunmuying Township Kindergarten in Xuan'en County, central China's Hubei Province, on December 3

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: Tang Zhiyin greets his students on campus

KEEPING THE COLD OUT: Tang Zhiyin fuels the fluoride reduction furnace in the classroom. Since the school is located in cold alpine region, two furnaces are needed in each classroom in order to keep the room warm enough

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE: The two founders of the kindergarten Wang Junwei (right) and Tang Zhiyin discuss management issues

GUIDANCE: Wang Junwei gives a student some extra help in a reading and writing class

HYDRATION: Wang Junwei walking around the classroom to ensure all going well. In the foreground are the children's drinking cups. Each child has one to themself

EAT UP: Wang Junwei takes care of his students during lunch time

RECESS: Wang Junwei (second left) watches his students playing in the winter sunshine

INFORMAL MEETING: Wang Junwei (right) and Tang Zhiyin stand in front of their dormitory