China issues stamps on Lei Feng to invoke spirit of a humble soldier

A visitor reads a book about Lei Feng in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2013. The 58-year-old Duan Sixu is a fan of Lei Feng, China's iconic soldier, who embodied selflessness and altruism. He has collected more than 3,000 items about Lei Feng in 50 years.(Xinhua/Wang Xiao).

China on Tuesday issued stamps to mark the 50th anniversary of late Chairman Mao Zedong's call of "learning from Lei Feng," the country's most famous Good Samaritan.

Besides stamps, there are other philatelic products to mark the anniversary including commemorative envelopes and comic books, according to a China National Philatelic Corporation statement.

Lei, a young Chinese soldier in the 1960s, is known for devoting his spare time and money to helping the needy. He died aged 22 after being hit by a falling pole while helping a fellow soldier direct a truck on Aug. 15, 1962.

A year later, Chairman Mao called on the country to follow Lei's example, and March 5 every year is designated "Lei Feng Day."