A CLASS taught by Zhang Zhujun, a professor of chemistry at Shaanxi Normal University, who is now in his 80s, has gone viral online, because of his humorous teaching style and the encyclopedic knowledge that he has acquired over nearly 60 years of teaching. Shaanxi Daily comments:

Zhang sets a good example for young teachers, and demonstrates to people in other walks of life that the knowledge and craftsmanship gained over a long period of practice are valuable not only to themselves but also to society.

He is good at conveying difficult information in an interesting way so that it is easily understandable for undergraduates. His classes are always crowded with students from various departments, even those from other universities.

Students jokingly say that Zhang has the ability to make a student majoring in literature change to chemistry.

Zhang suffers from some chronic diseases and has four stents in his heart, but his love of teaching means he can still instill in students a passion for chemistry.

Zhang's enthusiasm should remind other professors obsessed with their well-paying research projects or publishing theses in academic journals in pursuit of promotion, that teaching is their primary task.