Living in China can really take a toll on one's faith in humanity. What with all the food scandals (melamine in the milk, sewer-recycled cooking oil, etc.), the government scandals (Red Cross misappropriating funds, the widespread use of “private prisons,” etc.), the construction scandals (fatal escalator malfunctions, fatal train crashes, etc.) – well, sometimes it seems we're all on that journey in the proverbial handbasket.

But all is not lost – while doom and gloom-style news may sell more headlines, there are daily instances of inspiring, courageous and downright heartwarming actions performed all over this country. From selfless rescues to charitable work to the power of redemption, read on for some of the most inspiring stories to come out of China this year. After all, “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

1) Stranger Rescues Falling Toddler

On July 3^rd in Hangzhou, 32 year-old Wu Juping managed to be at the right place at just the right time. A toddler by the name of Zhang Fangyu was left unaccompanied at home and fell out her 10th floor apartment window. Juping managed to catch the baby and diminish the impact, although she suffered a shattered arm while Fangyu fell into a coma due to massive organ damage. Happily, the toddler awoke from the coma a few weeks later and began calling for her parents. Juping, a mother herself, has rightly been labelled a “hero” by her community.

2) Man Re-enters Burning Bus to Save Family & Strangers
The crash earlier this year that occurred when a bus illegally pulled over on the side of the road and was hit from behind by a tractor trailer garnered many headlines. But Lu Yufeng, a 22 year-old woman who survived the crash, is still spreading the word about the heroic deeds of her husband. While the bus fire was still relatively small, Yufeng's husband, Zhang Chao, went back in and began pulling out his 16 year old sister-in-law and other strangers who were trapped. At one point, however, the fire spread out of control and Zhang, the “hero husband”, was unable to escape again.

3) Eight Workers Rescued After Tunnel Collapse

In August of this year, eight construction workers building a highway tunnel in southwest Yunnan Province were trapped after it collapsed on top of them. Local soldiers worked night and day to dig them out, despite heavy rains soaking into the ground that eventually caused a further collapse. After almost 48 hours buried underground, the workers were rescued and brought to a local hospital in stable condition. The rescuers are being praised for their tireless efforts despite natural obstacles, such as the weather that got in their way.

4) Free Diagnosis & Surgery for Tibetan Children with Congenital Heart Defects
Multiple non-profit organisations in China, along with Beijing Huaxin Hospital, have banded together to give diagnoses and operations to children from the Ngari prefecture in Tibet who have congenital heart defects. Most of the 5-16 year olds suffer from “atrial septal defects and patent ductus arteriosus,” both of which cause early death if severe, and low quality of life if mild. Between March 9-29, 3,726 children were examined, and in one week doctors from Huaxin Hospital diagnosed and treated 15 kids. All costs are covered by the organisations and hospital, which run about 10,000 RMB per surgery.

5) Man Famous for Selfless Works, Including Blood Donations
52 year-old Guo Mingyi has become a modern day symbol of selflessness due to this lifelong giving nature. Often referred to as today's “Lei Feng,” Mingyi has donated blood 59 times since 1990, which comes to a total of about 60,000 ml. He also promotes blood donation via his Weibo page and started the Guo Mingyi Love Team in 2006 – which now has over 46,000 volunteers in 10 different provinces. He also famously gave 6,000 RMB to a debt-ridden university student and, when gifted 50,000 RMB by a man who admired his works, donated the entire amount to a leukemia patient.

6) 89 Year-Old Surgeon Performs Over 14,000 Procedures

China's number one hepatobiliary (ie: liver and gallbladder) surgeon is 89 years old but still going strong. Throughout his 68 year (and counting!) career, Wu Mengchao has performed over 14,000 surgeries and won this country's most prestigious science award in 2005. What did he do with the 5,000,000 RMB prize? Wu donated it to research in his medical field in order to help future students of medicine. Despite his age, Wu is still known for his caring bedside nature and great skill – last year alone he performed over 196 liver operations (sometimes three in a day) and cared for almost 600 patients.

7) Man Founds Non-Profit for Deaf College Graduates
Earlier this year, Xiao Liang started Puki, a non-profit organisation that pairs a “fully able” person in a certain industry with a hearing-impaired “intern.” Called the “one-plus-one” system, he and his team are currently recruiting people to learn sign language in order to become “fully able” volunteers. Liang, who is not hearing impaired, was inspired to quit his job and start this organisation because he was frustrated by the fact that deaf college graduates are often forced into low-level positions because of their difficulty in communicating with others.

8) Ex-Convict Finds Redemption in Music

Chuan Zi, one of China's more famous folk singers, uses his music to inspire others towards a path of self-reflection and tolerance. Born in Beijing, Chuan Zi rebelled against a strict father and spent the ages of 19-27 in prison for fighting. Having served eight years of a 13 year sentence, Chuan Zi had a lot of time to teach himself guitar and write over 100 songs. He sang at various bars upon leaving jail, until 2007 when the founder of Thirteen Month Record Company signed him to their label. Now Chuan Zi finds comfort in spreading his inspirational and redemptive tale to others.
 

Related links
How Happy are Chinese People in Modern China Really?
Literary Love: Chinese Novelist Marries American Journalist
China’s Most Developed Cities are Also the Most Unhappy

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Keywords: inspirational stories of 2011 happy stories of 2011 China Chinese heroes 2011 best stories in China 2011