Qinghai, located on the northeastern side of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is one of the poorest provinces in China.

It has a harsh, high-altitude climate, poor infrastructure and an undeveloped education system.

It also has the highest rate of birth defects in the country.

About 90 per cent of the children in the home are disabled, with more than 20 per cent suffering from multiple disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, low mental capacity or epilepsy.

Many of them were abandoned by their parents on the street, at train stations, in public lavatories or on the orphanage's doorstep.

Their plight is often the direct result of poverty. The poorest families in the region earn less than 200 yuan a year.

There is also a lack of facilities for disabled children. Before the children's home opened, there were only three welfare centres in the whole province. Elderly people, mental patients, orphans and disabled children lived in these centres together.

The seven Hong Kong International School (HKIS) students and their teacher were in Xining from June 18 to 25 to learn more about the orphanage and spend time with the children.

The orphanage's services include rehabilitation, special education and medical treatment.

HKIS has a club that raises funds for the orphanage annually.

During the trip, the students found themselves constantly touched and enlightened by the children.

'There is one child who I will always remember because he draws with his feet,' said Diane Wang Bi-yun, 17.

'He grips the pen in between his big toe and second toe because he doesn't have that much mobility in his upper body. He doesn't give up. Since he cannot use his arms, he uses his feet instead.

'The children in the class drew us a picture together.'

Diane also recalled a boy in the class who offered a heartbreaking explanation of why it rains.

The boy liked to recall and act out stories. One day, the class was talking about the rain and he explained where it came from.

'He said the moon and the stars were crying,' said Diane.

'I asked him why the moon and stars were crying and he said it was because they had no mother. I think the story shows how he feels.'

For Jamie Shih Yau-chu, 18, it was the third time she had visited the orphanage.

'I really miss the children when I'm not with them,' she said.

She recalled a 17-year-old boy there who has the intelligence of a 10-month-old baby.

'One day, when he was throwing a tantrum, he ran towards me and held me tight. I couldn't let him go or he would start crying again. I realised then that the boy's situation is very sad.'

Jamie said the children have inspired her to be hard-working because she has realised that not everyone is able to receive an education.

She now buys fewer clothes because she knows that even a small amount of money - if donated to the orphanage - can make a big difference to the children's lives.

'My experience with the children has motivated me to work harder,' she said.