While trying to lift people out of poverty, the government of Hanyin county in Shaanxi did not leave a group behind that might be the most disadvantaged in society: those struggling in extreme poverty because of disability or old age.

Wu Xingsheng lost the ability to move or work because of an accident in 2003. The 40-year-old Hanyin resident has only one family member - his mother, who suffers from mental disorder and is also unable to take care of herself.

A turning point for Wu's life came in 2017, when he moved into a newly built care center for disabled and senior residents under the arrangement of officials from the bureau of civil affairs in Hanyin.

"Before coming to the Pushuang Care Center, I lived on my own and often had only one meal every two or three days and washed my clothes once a month because of my disability," Wu said.

"Now with the care of the workers at the center, I have three meals a day and my clothes are clean. I feel very happy about my life," he said.

What made Wu even much happier was that his mother was relocated to the care center, too.