Photo by Tony Zhao for China Daily

Star Talk: A global stage

Syrians return to damaged homes

The school tries to know the inner world of students through paintings and other means and offers psychological treatment to those who have post-war trauma.

During her stay in Lebanon, her fourth visit to refugee camps at her own expense, Yao also visited a refugee camp in Beirut. She made previous visits to the Philippines, the Thailand-Myanmar border and Ethiopia.

Yao's Lebanon trip has aroused much attention from Chinese web surfers, most of them young people.

"We support Yao Chen. Participating in activities of the international community is a symbol of civilization for a country. China, one of world powers, needs such a peace envoy," wrote a netizen under the pseudonym of Nayiedaner.

Another netizen called Zhu Boqi said: "A public figure should pay more attention to the public. This can show China's soft power. We give Yao a thumbs up!"

While few netizens questioned Yao's motives, most of them voiced support for her and their admiration for her courage, wishing her a safe journey in volatile Lebanon. Some of them even compared her to British actress Audrey Hepburn and American actress Angelina Jolie for her humanitarian acts.