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  Key chains from San francisco are hardly be found in Malaysia. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  Key chains specially brought back from Hong Kong and Macau by Li's wife. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  Key chains from foreign countries. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  An impressive multi-functional key chain. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  Beautifully designed key chains from South Korea. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  Key chains may also help us to gain more geographical knowledge. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  Li Kaisheng has so far collected about 500 key chains. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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When he was 15, a cigarette and beer salesman, who came to his father's coffee shop to promote new products, gave him a beautiful beer key chain. Since then, he fell into the world of key chains.

Key chains are useful in many ways. In addition to hold keys, they can also be a toolbook that enhances our geographical knowledge. They had even helped Li Kaisheng to get back into a normal life from depression.

Li has been collecting key chains over the past 27 years since he has got fascinated with them when he was 15. By now, he has collected about 500 key chains of various shapes and designs from different countries.

Amazingly, every key chain is unique, showing Li's attentiveness in collecting them.

Li said that his family members, relatives, friends and even customers will bring him surprises whenever they return from a trip, helping the increase of his collections.

Also, key chains helped Li to return to social life after a period of depression. He fell sick in his 30s and his wife had to bear the heavy burden of all family expenses, causing him unable to sleep at night.

Whenever he was unable to sleep, he would look at his key chains and it made him feel safe. Later, he started to accept the reality and returned to it.

Besides, key chains also helped him to make friends. A Japanese manager who worked in Malaysia once gave him a key chain with a Mountain Fuji logo on it and he appreciates it until now.

He also said that key chains have helped him to gain more geographical knowledge of the world. He was also impressed by some multi-functional key chains.

He collects also money boxes and coins. (Translated by YOU HSUEH LIN/ Sin Chew Daily)