London: `Rush Hour` star Jackie Chan has began his new year by paying a visit to the poverty-stricken people of Hebei province in China.
The 58-year-old actor donated food, clothes and medicines worth USD 480,000 among the poor villagers, reported Femalefirst.
Chan made the donations through his Jackie Chan Charity Foundation. The generous contribution comes months after he donated USD 64,000 to the villagers of Wangjiawan for the purpose of building a motor-pumped water well in the village to help them get over a severe drought like situation.
After the completion of the well Chan visited the site for inspection with some local celebraties and was happy with the progress.
Chan was all praise for the press and the social media for bringing the plight of Wangjiawan villagers to light.
"I have to say `thank you` to the reporters who have reported the poverty in this place. I hope they can cover more impoverished places like here. China is so big that my charity fund and I are not able to know the hardships everywhere.
"We can only get to know these impoverished areas through news reports. That is why I have to say `Thank you` to the media," he said.
PTI