'Children of the stars' set sail for adventure

Since the Star Sailing project became known in Chinese media, many parents of children with autism across the country have contacted Li.

According to a report by the China Association of Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons on April 2, which is World Autism Awareness Day, China had at least 3 million children, under 18, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, while there were about 100,000 autism rehabilitation therapists, far from enough to meet the country's demand.

Autism spectrum refers to a broad range of conditions, characterized by challenges related to social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Families with children on the spectrum face many difficulties and even social stigma, Li says, adding that such families need to be seen and accepted to make a difference in their lives.

Li spent his childhood in the county of Dongshan in southern Fujian and developed a fascination for the sea at a young age. At the age of 8, he started to learn sailing. From the provincial sailing team, he entered the national team and retired in 2008. After being a sailing coach for five years, he established a sailing company to promote the sport in Xiamen, Fujian, in 2013. That year, he visited a children's welfare center during a charity trip organized by the local government.

"It was my first time interacting with children with autism. They might be different from us in some ways, but they are also like us in many ways," Li says, adding that he then decided he wanted to help them in a practical way.

"I believe the ocean has the power to heal. If the ocean can help people, like me, find peace, why not children with autism?" Li says he asked himself.

When he discussed the idea of introducing the children to sailing with his family and friends at first, they thought it was a "crazy idea "and if anything unexpected happened, it might change, or even ruin his life. But Li didn't give up. He reached out to therapists to know how to interact with children with autism and two schools for special education to coordinate the first outing.