Among rows of quake relief tents, Shi Xuejun takes out a screwdriver, hammer, needles and a piece of cardboard, preparing to help out in his own way.

Shi Xuejun, a volunteer from East China's Shandong Province, repairs shoes and gives massages for free in quake-hit Yushu. [China Daily]

He places the cardboard sign beside him at the Gyegu Stadium in Yushu of Qinghai Province.

It reads: "Free service and repairs for worn shoes, broken watches, glasses and zippers, and free massages for rescuers and quake victims."

"My handicraft is not that good, but this is all I can do for the soldiers and the quake victims," said 48-year-old Shi, a masseuse and part-time repairman from Weihai, East China's Shandong Province.

When he heard about the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Qinghai last Wednesday, Shi decided to volunteer as soon as possible.

With his tool box prepared, Shi left home on Wednesday without telling his 20-year-old daughter or his wife. He took a long-distance bus from Weihai to Qingdao, then another from Qingdao to Zhengzhou, from Zhengzhou to Xi'an, Xi'an to Xining - and finally reaching Yushu on Sunday.

He said taking buses is affordable but time-consuming. His four-day trip cost him more than 1,000 yuan (US$146), or about half of his monthly income as a masseuse in Weihai.

Arriving at Yushu, altitude sickness posed a challenge for Shi and symptoms like dizziness, difficult breathing and headache have affected him.