A man in Zhejiang province has donated more than 17 million yuan ($2.7 million) to charity but lives a frugal life with his family in a 30-square-meter apartment, China Youth Daily reported on Monday.

He Guomiao, from Zhuji, a prefecture-level city in Eastern China's Zhejiang province, has 87 patents for his innovations. The application and production of the patents has brought him a fortune.

As his wealth grew, so did He's generosity. He has donated 10 percent of his earnings to charity every year since 2004.

He recently gave a 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) donation to the city's charity federation.

He has personally donated more than 17 million yuan to the city's education, health care and other charitable activities.

But despite his largesse in charity He is very frugal in his personal life. He and his family members live in an old house measuring only 30 square meters after he moved back to his hometown in May.

He has said he is content with the house he lives in and has never thought about using his fortune to buy another property.