Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

Students head for the canteen after class at Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil

E

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

Students have meals at the canteen of Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil servant

E

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

Students practice chorus at Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil servants, fulfill

E

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

A teacher tutors a student during the evening self-study class at Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teacher

E

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

Two students have meals outdoors at Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil servants,

E

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

Zhang Guimei (3rd L) checks meal service at Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil s

E

Free Education Empowers Rural Girls In Huaping - China

Students have a class at Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Huaping County, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 23, 2025. Each morning at Huaping High School for Girls in Yunnan Province, the schoolyard rings with a bold pledge, "I was born to be a mountain not a creek, rising to the high peaks with the valleys at my feet." Behind that voice stands Zhang Guimei, the school's founder and principal. In her sixties and struggling with illness, she still devotes more than 18 hours a day to her students. Megaphone in hand, she has become a living symbol of how education can open doors that poverty once closed. Founded in 2008, Huaping High School for Girls is the country's first senior high school to offer free education for girls. The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil servants, fulfilling

E

White-naped cranes in Kagoshima Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 3, 2008, shows a flock of white-naped cranes in the Izumi Plains in Kagoshima Prefecture. A white-naped crane in the plains is suspected of being infected with avian influenza, a local official said on Dec. 23, 2010.

E

Japanese emperor, crown prince

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito (C), his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito (L) and Crown Princess Masako are seen attending a Dec. 23, 2008 ceremony to celebrate the emperor's birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The future of the imperial family has been a political and household topic as the 20th anniversary of the 75-year-old emperor's enthronement was marked Nov. 12, 2009.

E

White-naped cranes in Kagoshima Pref.

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 3, 2008, shows a flock of white-naped cranes in the Izumi Plains in Kagoshima Prefecture. A white-naped crane in the plains is suspected of being infected with avian influenza, a local official said on Dec. 23, 2010. (Kyodo)

E

Japanese emperor, crown prince

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito (C), his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito (L) and Crown Princess Masako are seen attending a Dec. 23, 2008 ceremony to celebrate the emperor's birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The future of the imperial family has been a political and household topic as the 20th anniversary of the 75-year-old emperor's enthronement was marked Nov. 12, 2009. (Kyodo)