Fan Dongming writes a poem on a computer with his right foot at his home in Fanjia village, March 27, 2018. [Photo/IC]

Fan Dongming lives in Fanjia village in Dongying, Shandong province. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 7 months. Having never been to school, Fan taught himself how to read and write with the help of a dictionary.

He learned to write with a pencil using his right foot. Overcoming many difficulties, he also studied the literary and history textbooks from primary school to university on his own, and has read scores of literary masterpieces.

Fan's father helps him downstairs to go out for a walk. [Photo/IC]

Fan has taken to poetry after reading a book by Tagore, and started reading more books of poems since then. He also recorded his thoughts and feelings on life in his poems.

In 2005, with worsening heath, Fan could not "hold" a pen anymore, and he used a computer to explore the outside world and continue writing poems.

Fan's poetry books and dictionaries lay on a desk in his room. [Photo/IC]

In 2013, Fan started writing his own poetry anthology. Every morning, he got up before 6 o'clock, and listened to audio books. Then he started creating in his small bedroom, which he described as a painful yet rewarding experience.

With the funds raised by his family and neighbors, Fan's first poetry book was published in 2015. It has been well-received among readers and sold more than 7,000 copies.

In March, Fan's second poetry collection was also published. 

Fan listens to an audio version of his poems read by a narrator on March 27, 2018 . [Photo/IC]

Fan's mother takes care of him. [Photo/IC]

Fan writes a poem on a computer, March 27, 2018. [Photo/IC]

Fan promotes his new book of poems, March 24, 2018. [Photo/IC]