Man's journey from scrap-collecting to Asia's most prestigious university and state advisor at age 26

Authorities in Wuqiao County, Hebei Province, on May 10 announced the appointment of Pang Zhongwang, currently a PhD student at Tsinghua, as a think-tank expert and ambassador for culture and tourism, Sina reported. Wuqiao is Pang's hometown, though detailed responsibilities for his role have not yet been disclosed.

Six years earlier, Pang captured nationwide attention after scoring 684 out of 750 on China's highly competitive national college entrance examination, earning a place at Tsinghua, which was named the most prestigious in Asia in Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2025.

The achievement came despite significant adversity. His father suffers from schizophrenia, his mother had a disability affecting her lower body, and Pang himself underwent heart surgery at the age of seven due to a congenital condition, according to China Daily.

Though Pang fully recovered after the surgery, he felt deep guilt because the operation plunged his already impoverished family further into debt. From then on, Pang began collecting scrap materials after school to help support his family financially, while also managing household chores and caring for his parents.

Despite these hardships, Pang maintained exceptional academic performance throughout his schooling.

In a previous television interview, Pang shared that his mother raised him to stay optimistic, often reminding him to look ahead. She smiled every day, and he saw no reason to feel down, according to Sina.

Pang's mother, Pang Zhiqin, was born with spina bifida, resulting in underdeveloped lower limbs and ultimately the amputation of both legs. For safety reasons, her parents did not allow her to attend school. When her son was born, she named him "Zhongwang," meaning "great hope," reflecting her aspirations for his future.

Due to her limited mobility and unwillingness to inconvenience others, she never visited Tsinghua University to see her son. She passed away in 2020 at age 48 after a hospitalization.

According to CCTV News, during her hospital stay, Pang was undergoing interviews for direct admission into Tsinghua's doctoral program. She was able to hear the good news of his successful admission before her death.

Now 26 years old, Pang is pursuing his PhD at Tsinghua University, specializing in precision instruments. He has already published several research papers in Chinese scientific journals, according to the South China Morning Post.