No one could have anticipated that two small towns, separated by over 600 kilometers of the Qinling and Wuling mountain ranges, would form a profound connection across this vast distance due to a single act of compassion. Recently, Ji Yaozhong, a resident of Yangxian County, Shaanxi, was driving a truck loaded with more than 4,000 kilograms of apples from Yan'an, Shaanxi, to Xianfeng County in Enshi Prefecture, Hubei, to sell them. After arriving in Xianfeng on May 2, he suffered a sudden cerebral infarction and was admitted to the Xianfeng County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for treatment.
Following his hospitalization, the truck loaded with apples was parked outside the hospital's oxygen supply room, with no one to sell the fresh fruit. As temperatures gradually rose, the apples in the truck were at high risk of spoiling. The family, who depended on this venture for their livelihood, faced the prospect of their hard work going to waste, compounded by the sudden illness.
"We have hundreds of staff members. If everyone buys a few kilograms, we can help them reduce their losses," suggested Jiao Yonggao, a staff member of the hospital's general affairs department, upon witnessing the predicament. He and his colleagues circulated an appeal: "The patient has 4 tons of apples with him but is unable to sell them due to his illness. We kindly ask for voluntary purchases to help this non-local patient mitigate economic losses and overcome this difficult time..."
The appeal quickly went viral on local social media, sparking a rapid chain of goodwill. Hospital staff were the first to respond, followed by nearby compassionate residents and locals. Everyone voluntarily purchased the apples at the set price of 5 yuan per kilogram, conscientiously weighing and paying for them. There was no hard selling, only genuine warmth and kindness being passed along.
From the start of sales to completely selling out, it took only 19 hours for all 4,000+ kilograms of apples to be purchased. "If it weren't for the hospital and so many kind-hearted people, the apples would have spoiled. I would have lost tens of thousands of yuan, making our difficult situation even worse," said Liang Lili, Ji Yaozhong's wife, deeply moved.
Ji Yaozhong has been traveling for years and has sold apples in Xianfeng for multiple seasons, building a base of repeat customers. The scenic and hospitable Xianfeng, with its淳朴 folkways and善良 people, has long felt like a second home to him. Thanks to the careful treatment by hospital medical staff, Ji Yaozhong's condition has now stabilized, and he is expected to recover and be discharged after a few days of rest.
This act of kindness spanning a thousand miles soon reached Ji Yaozhong's hometown of Yangxian County, Shaanxi, touching the hearts of countless locals. Many Yangxian netizens left messages of gratitude on online platforms: "True compassion reveals itself in times of crisis. Thank you to the善良乡亲们 of Xianfeng. We extend our sincerest gratitude to all the good-hearted people," and "Ordinary acts of kindness converge into a warm current of humanity. The warmth in a foreign land comforts a traveler's heart. We applaud the people of Xianfeng!"
Goodwill over a thousand miles surely elicits a response. On May 6, Yangxian County, Shaanxi, publicly published an open letter online addressed to Enshi, Hubei. The letter stated that to reciprocate the deep friendship of the people of Xianfeng and to deepen cultural exchanges between the two places, starting from May 7, 2026, all ticketed scenic spots in Yangxian County will implement a one-year free admission policy for residents of Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province.
Responding to this call, on the morning of May 7, Xianfeng County, Hubei, warmly replied: All ticketed scenic spots in Xianfeng County will implement a one-year free admission policy for residents of Yangxian County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, starting from May 7, 2026. They sincerely invited all friends and relatives from Yangxian to visit Xianfeng "to savor Xianfeng white tea, enjoy the natural oxygen bar, tour the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tangya, appreciate the intangible cultural heritage Nanju opera, and watch the national Village Basketball Association games" while the breeze is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful year-round.
The two counties of Yangxian, Shaanxi, and Xianfeng, Hubei, conveyed their goodwill to each other through official social media channels. In fact, the seeds for this warmth were planted earlier. Zhang Fuqing, a recipient of the "Medal of the Republic," dedicated his life to Enshi, and he is originally from Yangxian. After transferring from the military in 1955, Zhang Fuqing took root in Enshi Prefecture, Hubei, devoting his life to interpreting his original aspirations and mission.
"This chain of compassion is not only a vivid continuation of the dedication spirit of the old hero Zhang Fuqing but also a profound portrayal of the mutual support and shared bonds between the people of Shaanxi and Hubei," said Mei Yankun, Deputy Director of the Xianfeng County Culture and Tourism Bureau.
Hubei and Shaanxi are connected by mountains and rivers, with the Qinling Mountains spanning both provinces. The Han River originates in Hanzhong, flowing for thousands of miles into the lands of Jingchu (Hubei). The two regions have long been interconnected and mutually supportive in historical heritage, daily life, ecological economy, and various other aspects.
Once the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is fully operational, traversing the natural barrier of the Qinling Mountains in just 45 minutes, travel between the two areas will become seamless, bringing them even closer together.
"This heartwarming story has led the two small towns to reach out and form a bilateral bond across the distance," Mei Yankun said. The free admission policy is the most质朴 expression of friendship between the towns, a sincere response embodying "you lend me a hand, and I offer you the hospitality of a city." This mutual courtesy between the two places is set to initiate a longer-lasting connection.
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