Voting begins to select China's grassroots heroes

Online voting kicked off on Wednesday to select China's grassroots heroes for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The public can vote online at www.xinhuanet.com or via microblogs and mobile applications to select 10 individuals from 20 nominees whose actions or stories have moved or inspired Chinese people.

The 10 winners of this quarter will contest an annual final poll along with 30 other individuals or groups chosen in previous quarters of the year.

The nominees include writer Liu Daming, 19, a brittle bone disease sufferer, who has won 12 national prizes in literature, and Hou Guoxin, who has devoted himself to making the elderly happy during the past 13 years.

Held since 2010 and sponsored by Xinhua News Agency, the event has evolved to promote people's good deeds and improve moral awareness in society.