Students sit on Li Congshu's wooden boat at the Xiangshuitan Reservoir in Dazu district, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, on Jan 11, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Besides teaching, Li Congshu, 60, also spends two hours rowing a boat to take students to and from school at the Xiangshuitan Reservoir in Dazu district, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

Li has been doing this everyday for 10 years, and thanks to Li's wooden boat, it only takes students about half an hour to cross the reservoir. Otherwise, it would take the students over two hours to walk around the reservoir to reach their elementary school in the farthermost end of the body of water.

In 2007, Li spent more than 1,000 yuan ($145) on a wooden boat and began carrying students across the reservoir each day without charging them any fees.

When asked why he does this, the teacher said: "I feel proud from my innermost heart when I see students coming to learn at the school, though others have joked that I suffer an occupational disease of loving teaching."

To ensure children's safety, Li prepares life vests for students who take the boat.

Li said he has three dreams: to see the 3.2 km road, a section of students' route to school, constructed as soon as possible, to buy a motor boat since it is difficult for him to row the boat as he ages and to see someone take over for him when he cannot row anymore in the future.

"I will keep rowing the boat to carry students as long as I can," said Li.