Zhao Xianwen, a one-armed entrepreneur in Yanbian, Jilin province, has conquered physical challenges to start his own business and has devoted himself to volunteer projects over the past few decades.

Zhao, born in Shandong province, lost his left arm when he was nine years old because of an electrical shock and two years later suffered the loss of his parents. Since then, he lodged with his relatives until his graduation from junior school when Zhao decided to work to support himself.

Zhao took various jobs before he finally settled down in Yanbian. He once sold vegetables, made Tanghulu — a traditional snack with sugar coated haws on a stick — in Beijing, and was even a porter.

He made up his mind to move to Yanbian in 1997 and worked as a deliverer for a restaurant. Every day, Zhao shuttled through the city, riding his bicycle to deliver wine and cigarettes that restaurants requested.

The most difficult thing for Zhao was that he could only control the handlebar with only one arm and normally the bike would carry heavy goods, which made it even more difficult to manage.

Many restaurant managers were moved by Zhao's perseverance and would give him preference for their tasks, which helped him obtain more income.

Zhao Xianwen examines the storage of spring water. [Photo/yanjinews.com]

Three years later, he opened a small outlet and the business was becoming better and better.

A staff member at Truelove Food Factory — a firm producing various snacks including melon seeds and other nuts — visited Zhao's outlet and looked to set up a cooperation agreement to sell new products in 2001.

Zhao purchased a large amount of newly produced melon seeds but very few people wanted to buy the new flavored snack.

To sell the melon seeds, Zhao gave the snacks to various shops for free and collected earnings after the goods were sold. This marketing technique proved to be quite successful and made the snacks became popular in Yanbian.

He then cooperated with several other firms and sold spring water products. To date, the little outlet has grown into a company with more than 30 employees.

Zhao Xianwen examines the sterilization quality of the dishes and bowls at the facility. [Photo/yanjinews.com]

Zhao also established a tableware sterilization factory and introduced advanced devices to raise the sterilization quality.

Thinking of the help he has received in the past decades, Zhao has devoted himself to volunteer work since 2004. He has helped more than 80 people with employment difficulty find jobs and has taken care of many impoverished students and seniors without families.

"I might have died of starvation when I was young without help from other people, so I want to thank them and spread such care and love to more people," Zhao said.

To date, Zhao has donated 200,000 yuan ($28,846) to people in need and has become a self-strengthening example for many people in the province and even the entire nation.

Zhao Xianwen reminds a staff member in the sterilizing facility to be careful with their cleaning job. [Photo/yanjinews.com]