We followed retired U.S. educator Ronald Sakolsky during his journey through China and witnessed many moments worth treasuring.

What did returning to China mean to Sakolsky? Why did he repeatedly say that "Yin Yuzhen is the hero"? How different is the China he remembers from the China he sees today? And what kind of "seed" does he hope to plant in the younger generation?

We sat down with him for an exclusive interview. Here are some highlights:

• "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

• "China does not have to love America. We don't have to love each other. We just have to like each other. I think if we look at it that way, we can make the bond."

• "The world is beautiful, but it is not good in some ways: war, conflict, international problems. So learn from that and make it better."