Yin Guilan, an elderly volunteer who died on Dec 4 at the age of 94, washes the Nanzhen Bridge in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Volunteers in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province organized a series of voluntary activities on Dec 7 to cherish the memory of Yin Guilan, a local volunteer who died on Dec 4 at the age of 94.

Yin, a Party member, previously lived in Shanghai and moved to Zhoushan with her husband in 1959.

She was known for her kindness and generosity everywhere she went, even earning the name "bridge washing granny" because she washed dirty bridges in the city for more than 10 years.

"Although she has passed away, her spirit of goodwill will be carried forward by local volunteers. May she rest in peace," said a member of the Zhoushan Charity Federation.

Yin was first interviewed and called the "bridge washing granny" by local journalists of the Zhoushan Evening News while she was washing the Jishi Bridge, which was muddy and plastered with advertising papers, on June 19, 2003.

"I just want to do something for the city," she said when asked why she decided to wash bridges.

In addition to washing bridges, Yin also helped pay for a student's schooling and helped many other people in need, actively participating in countless voluntary activities in Zhoushan.

She was designated as one of the city's ten newsmakers engaged in volunteer activities and one of the best volunteers in the city. She was awarded many other titles to honor her acts of kindness in her lifetime.

A number of locals wanted to build a statue of Yin to commemorate her hard work and goodwill, said officials.