An 8-year-old child and his 55-year-old grandfather study together as deskmates at a special education school in Lixian county of Longnan, Gansu province.

The child, surnamed Yang, was diagnosed with cretinism, a condition characterized by physical deformity and learning disabilities. It occurs when a fetus is deficient in thyroid from the mother's body during pregnancy.

He is smaller and thinner than his peers, his grandfather said, adding that the boy is unable to learn in common kindergartens and primary schools because of his physical condition.