Jin Xiaoyu at his home in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. LIU LANG/CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION

Never apart

"My father is my secretary who helps me to contact the media and takes care of me," Jin Xiaoyu said.

The father and son now lead an ordinary life. Translation work takes up most of Jin Xiaoyu's time while Jin Xingyong is responsible for doing housework and cooking meals.

The relationship between them is also getting closer.

Films directed by Tarkovsky were recently shown in Hangzhou. As Jin Xiaoyu invited his father to go to the cinema, Jin Xingyong said, "I will go with you, though I probably will not understand it".

For Jin Xingyong, the happiest thing that happened recently was that a caring center for people with challenges offered accommodation for them, which means that he will never be apart from his son.

Jin Xiaoyu plans to finish the translation work of Arcades Projects, written by German author Walter Benjamin, before his father reaches 88 years of age and then stop translation work to learn Spanish.

More attention

Jin Xiaoyu's story has attracted much attention not only to his family but also to patients with mental challenges.

"He didn't accept any systematic education on language or translation at college but managed to translate many books while suffering from the disease. He is a genius," said Ying Yuanma, vice-president of Hangzhou Translation Association. Ying also invited Jin Xiaoyu to join in the association.

Huang Feihua, a taxi driver who established a volunteer team to offer free transportation services for senior residents in Hangzhou, called Hangzhou Daily and said that they would provide free services for Jin Xiaoyu's family.

Zhu Yufang, owner of a popular bookstore, said that they wanted to hold a book sharing activity for Jin Xiaoyu.

According to Hangzhou Daily, many readers also called to donate. But Jin Xingyong declined all material support.

Hu Shaohua, director of a mental health department at a hospital in Hangzhou, called for more love and tolerance for patients with bipolar disorder when they return to society.

Yu Yin contribute to the story.