Would You Accompany This Lonely Grandma On An All-Expense Paid Trip?

by Enoch

Well, this made my heart break a little.

A grandmother’s post on Chinese social media app WeChat has gone viral (link to article in Chinese) in the past few days, after she posted an “ad” looking for a travel companion. The woman, named Li Yanling, lives in Zhengzhou city, and is looking to visit Sanya (Hainan Island) for a winter getaway. This is her ad, translated from Chinese:

[Looking for a “daughter” as a travel buddy]

Hi everyone. I’m Li Yanling, 63 years old. I live by myself in Zhengzhou, and am in good health. My daughters are working and away out of town, and I didn’t want to bother them. I really wanted to visit Sanya this winter to see the sea, but didn’t want to go by myself and feel too lonely. I’m hoping to find a lively, warm-hearted girl to come with me, preferable between 19 and 24. I’m hoping we can chat a little, and maybe she can help me take a few pictures. I’m willing to pay for all expenses of the trip, including airfare, meals, and accommodation. I’ll even throw in an iPhone 7 as a small gift.

She then posted a few pictures of the gift, and what looked to be a poster for Sanya.

The lonely Grandma Li posted an ad looking for a travel buddy on Chinese social media app WeChat

The lonely Grandma Li posted an ad looking for a travel buddy on Chinese social media app WeChat

After the “ad” went viral on Chinese social media sites, a bunch of people offered to accompany Grandma Li on the trip. Some even said they’ll pay for their own expenses (link to article in English).

“I don’t need the phone but can come with you, auntie, and I will pay my own bills, as long as it relieves your loneliness,” Sina weibo user @shanjigedexiaomimei said.
“That’s so distressing! What the elderly need is no more than a little time with their kids,” commented @meilimianmian.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like Li’s loneliness came from being abandoned; she said that one of her daughters moved to Canada, and she didn’t want to bother her for a trip like this. Her husband also began going on hiking trips with his own companions, so she’s left searching for a surrogate daughter for this trip.
Hopefully the sea of positive response can help lift Grandma Li’s spirit a little bit, and I’m sure she will now have plenty of candidates to pick from!

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3 comments

Angelina Aucello December 13, 2016 - 10:19 am

Awww sign me up! 🙂

Reply
alex December 13, 2016 - 11:22 am

wow, that is a good translation. Probably the best I’ve ever seen! Usually, I find literal translations, but the one posted above captures the meaning of the message

Reply
Lionel December 13, 2016 - 6:42 pm

It’s a trap…too nice. She pays, giving an iPhone and asking only for a young girl ?
Why specify the age ?
Honestly I know it’s Christmas in few days but you still believe in Santa ?

Reply

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