Citizens in Harbin, the capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, donated more than 7 million yuan ($1.1 million)?to a teacher named Zhang Lili who they call a hero, a Harbin official said July 24.

Zhang Lixin, Harbin's publicity chief, told g reporters that citizens in Harbin donated 7.11 million yuan to Zhang in less than half a month after she was hospitalized in Harbin.

Zhang Lili was hit by a runaway bus as she pushed two children out of the way on May 8 in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province.

The Chinese-language teacher at Jiamusi's No 19 Middle School saved the students' lives, but she was so seriously injured that doctors were forced to amputate both of her legs.