Discover how a Chengdu ride-hailing driver's kind words to a visually impaired passenger blossomed into an inspiring and enduring friendship.
Tags:A ride-hailing driver in Chengdu, southwest China, has attracted widespread attention online after a heartfelt exchange with a visually impaired passenger developed into an unexpected friendship. A video documenting their conversation has received more than 7.4 million likes on Chinese social media, with viewers praising the driver’s empathy and his commitment to treating the passenger with dignity and respect.
The driver, surnamed Wang, picked up a visually impaired passenger, surnamed Ou, in Chengdu, Sichuan province. The ride had been marked as requiring accessible service, and Wang helped Ou into the car.
During their conversation, Ou asked whether Wang had hesitated to accept the booking after learning that his passenger was blind. “What’s the big deal? People should understand each other. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes,” Wang replied.
Ou explained that he had lost his sight after suffering a fever at just one year old. Now 49, he has lived with blindness for almost his entire life. After losing both parents, he learned to support himself by working as a massage therapist. As the conversation continued, Ou removed his sunglasses and explained that he wore them because he felt self-conscious about his appearance.
Wang responded with a simple reassurance: “Brother, you’re not ugly.” The words clearly moved Ou, who offered the driver a 20-yuan (approximately US$3) tip. “Just from those words, I know you are a good person,” he said.
Their interaction did not end when the journey was over. The two exchanged contact details and arranged a return trip, gradually developing a friendship.
Ou later offered Wang a 100-yuan cash gift and a mobile phone credit top-up. Wang declined both, explaining that he wanted to treat Ou as an equal rather than define their relationship through money or disability.
“If you ever run into trouble, I’ll be there to help you, whether you give me money or not,” Wang promised. According to local media reports, the two men later shared a meal. Wang, a military veteran, also made a longer-term commitment: whenever Ou needs a ride between Chengdu and his hometown, located more than 200 kilometres away, he will drive him there free of charge.
For Ou, who has never married and has no children or savings, the encounter offered a meaningful sense of warmth and connection. Wang, meanwhile, said he admired Ou’s resilience and optimism, describing his own actions as a small gesture of kindness.
After Wang shared a video of their conversation online, it attracted widespread attention and received more than 7.4 million likes. Many viewers praised the men for the mutual understanding and respect they showed one another.
“Empathy is the essence of kindness,” one commenter wrote.
Another viewer observed that the two men were helping each other heal through their interaction.
Their story highlights an important aspect of inclusion: accessibility is not only about transport services or physical infrastructure, but also about how people treat one another in everyday life. A few sincere words cannot remove every barrier faced by people with disabilities, but they can help create a society in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
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Editor: Yuna
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