Born into a poor peasant's family in Hunan Province, China in 1940, Lei Feng became an orphan in his childhood. His father died of starvation and his mother committed suicide when she was raped by the landlord for whom she worked as a family servant. After his mother's death, Lei Feng became a beggar in the street at the age of six.

Liberation came to his hometown in 1949. The local government took very good care of him and sent him to school. Lei Feng, a homeless boy, had a home and became a member of the local community. Having completed his elementary school education at the age of 16, Lei Feng joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA).He was once a soldier, a cook and a truck driver in the Army. He studied very hard in the army and whole-heartedly served the people. He always loved whatever assignment he was given, worked hard on it and later became an expert in it.
 

Always ready to help those in need without thinking of himself, he treated the people as his family members, and considered the motherland as his own parents, saying: "It is the people and the government who have given me a second life. I will put my limited life into the unlimited service to the people."

In 1961, while at work, Lei Feng was killed in an accident. In his honor, the army published his voluminous diary. The nation was shocked by his life story, and deeply moved by his single-minded dedication and service to the people. His motto: "To live is to serve the people - live to make others happy" greatly inspired the Chinese people, especially the young generation.