Xiang Dayong (middle) poses for a photo with a silk banner presented by families of the woman he saved. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]

A migrant workerwho saved the life of a drowning womanwas granted permanent residencyin Hangzhou.

The move was part of the city's efforts to encourage good deedsthroughpolicy support.

Xiang Dayong, a migrant worker from Hunan province, received the Hangzhou household register from a policeman at a community service center in Yuhang district on Dec 3.

Xiang, who works as a mailman, expressed his gratitude to the local government for its kind gesture, saying what he did was trivial.

Receiving the permanent residency means that Xiang will be entitled to more benefits provided by the local government.

The incident took place at the end of last year when Xiang heard a call for help while on his way to deliver packages. After realizing that a woman was struggling in the water, he jumped into the river and saved her life.

Xiang Dayong, a mailman in Hangzhou, poses for a photo while holding his permanent household register. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]

Xiang was later awarded with a number of titles by the Hangzhou Good Samaritan Foundation and the local government.

He received the Second-Class Merit Award by the Hangzhou government on Nov 19, the fifth Zhejiang Kind Acts Promotion Day.

Xiang said that he can now apply to live in low-rental houses because of the permanent residency. "I've heard that the rent is only 400-500 yuan ($61.24 - $76.55) per month, and the water and electricity charges will also be cheaper," he added.

According to an official with the Yuhang public security bureau, the Zhejiang government had in August 2017 implemented a policy stipulating that people who are awarded county-level or above titles for their kind acts or contributions can apply for permanent residency.