An elderly man in Central China has won praise online for handing out thank you notes handwritten in English to people who give up their seat on the subway, according to Chutian Metropolis Daily.

The retired math teacher, 86, has given out 839 notes in Wuhan, Central Hubei province. Each says, "Thanks for your seat. Good luck to you."

An undergraduate surnamed Li was the latest recipient. "I didn't expect to receive such a note. It made me feel really warm," she said.

Zheng Yumeng contributed to this story.