Mo Zhiwei, a retired engineer from Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, tickles the ivories. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Mo Zhiwei, a senior from Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, caused a sensation when she recently donated 10 pianos to the city for public use.

A retired engineer, Mo said she wanted to make the gesture before Nov 16, when she would celebrate her 80th birthday. 

The good deed has earned Mo the nickname of "Piano Granny" from local residents. 

"The idea of donating pianos occurred to me every time I saw a street piano in a foreign country," said Mo in an interview with China's central television channel, or CCTV.

"Now that Ningbo is working to build itself into a city of music, I think it should also have street pianos to create a sound musical atmosphere in the public."

Starting in July, Mo has been looking for suitable places for the pianos throughout the city. She added they have been selected now and that the sites included a park, a bookstore, a railway station, a shopping plaza and an airport, among others.

Liu Jie, an official at Ningbo Airport Group, shows Mo Zhiwei around Ningbo Lishe International Airport to find a suitable place for one of the 10 pianos. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]