Honesty has always been a traditional virtue in China. Despite the passage of time, honesty has been passed down as a mainstream value and embodied in countless tales throughout China's history.

A famous Chinese idiom, "a promise is worth 1,000 ounces of gold," tells such a story. 

In the early Western Han Dynasty (202BC-AD25), a general named Ji Bu was known for being courageous and honest.

Legend has it that whenever Ji Bu made a promise, he would spare no effort to fulfill it. Such a virtue of honesty earned him a good reputation, and a saying widely spread: It is better to have a promise from Ji Bu than to get hundreds of ounces of gold.

The saying was distilled to the idiom. Later generations hence often use this idiom to describe a person as honest as Ji Bu.

In today's China, the ethos of honesty is still well respected.

China selects national ethical role models every year. It manifests in a government award for people known for their honesty and trustworthiness. Their stories are broadcast across the country to set good examples and promote the virtue of honesty.

"Every time I learn about their stories, I'm deeply moved and vow to follow suit and be an honest person," said Pan Sixue, a resident in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province.