In other news: A traveling picture, a heroic teacher and a heartwarming taxi driver

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3 stories that deliver positive energy in China…just for a change from all the “What’s wrong with China?!” news. You know, like after reading China related news on WSJ, NYTimes or FT for a few days, you’d want to turn to CCTV or Global Times for a break to check out alternative perspectives (of the Chinese government) or to pick up something for jokes, whatever the reason is. All 3 stories have had made to Sina Weibo Top Trending Topics (Twitter-like service in China) and caught national attention.

Take grandpa around the world

On May 11, a post from netizen 一Buddy一 calling for help mobilized Weibo users from around the world. The SOS message goes: “I need to ask all of you for a favor. My grandpa is severely ill and, according to the doctors, doesn’t have much time to live. He hasn’t been to many places in his life, nor does he have much time to do so now. I painted a portrayal of him. If you could, please print it out or show it on computer screens and take it out to shoot a picture with it at where you are. Please then upload the picture to Weibo and @ me. I want to show the world to my grandpa, as if he was traveling to those places. Can you help me create such memories for him? Thank you very much.”

So far, the post got nearly 90K reposts and about 13K comments, almost all with a picture attached, some from other parts of China, some from different corners of the world.

Female teacher lost both legs after saving 2 students from oncoming bus

On May 8, Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old middle school teacher at the city of Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province was run over and lost both of her legs after pushing two students out of the way of a rushing school bus. It was reported that at the time of the accident, there were 1 van and 2 buses lining up outside the school gate to pick up students home. The bus parked at the farthest end suddenly lurched forward and pushed the second bus into the van. At the time, several students were passing through the first and the second bus and were about to be crushed. Zhang Lili, our heroic teacher, rushed towards the bus, pushing one student out and grabbing another to the side. But she, herself, was knocked down. She suffered from severe lumbar fractures and local doctors had to amputate both of her legs to save her life. As of this post, she has been transferred to a bigger hospital in Harbin, but is still in critical condition. (Click here for a recap of the story in Chinese)

At the night when Zhang Lili was transferred from Jiamusi to a better hospital in Harbin 3 hours of drive away, hundreds of people in Jiamusi gathered outside the hospital to send her off. And in Harbin, hundreds of taxis drivers lined up outside the station to welcome Zhang’s ambulance and to give her their best wishes.

[Pictures from @黑龙江新闻]

People gathering outside the hospital to send Zhang off

Taxi drivers outside Harbin station to welcome Zhang

“I earn money a bit easily than you do.”

Another story about taxi drivers, this time, in Tianjin. Yaoyao521 shared a little anecdote of her taxi-driver father on April 16. The story made to Sina Weibo’s Top Trending Topic list in 2 days and touched the hearts of thousands of netizens.

“Story of my father driving a taxi:Yesterday afternoon, a blind man got into my father’s taxi from Meijing (a big residential district in Tianjin). When he got off, the fare totaled 11.4 yuan. My father helped him into the building and told him: “I won’t charge you for your ride because I earn money a bit easier than you do.” When my father walked out of the community, another middle-aged man got in and wanted to go to Zhongshan Gate. His fare was 14.5. My father and he had very pleasant chats on the way. When the man got off, he handed over 30 yuan to my father and said: “I’m not a great man, either, but like you said, I earn money a bit easier than you do. Hope you keep doing good.”

Sometimes one couldn’t help but think that China would be a much better place if all of its 1.3 billion people are taxi drivers, or someone who cares to pass on a small piece of good will.

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