China News Service, Luliang, November 3rd. Title: A veteran rescued a 7-year-old boy who fell into the water and donated all the bonus for his courage.
Author Fan Lifang Zhu Junlin
Recently, Fenyang City, Shanxi Province identified an act of bravery as a righteous act, and the protagonist was Zhao Weiping, chairman of the Fenyang Hospital trade union and a veteran. More than two months ago, he rescued a 7-year-old boy who fell into the water at the Beijing Zoo.
At noon on August 20, 2026, Zhao Weiping was resting near the waterfowl lake at the Beijing Zoo when he suddenly heard a child crying and calling for help, and saw a boy sinking in the water. At the critical moment, Zhao Weiping didn't have time to think, so he rushed to the lakeside, grabbed the lakeside rocks with one hand, stepped into the edge of the lake, and pulled hard several times to rescue the drowning child from the lake about two meters deep. After confirming that the child's vital signs were stable and there were no obvious physical injuries, Zhao Weiping left the scene silently after exhorting the child's family, without leaving his name or contact information.
After many inquiries, the child's mother finally found Zhao Weiping and sent a special banner. She thanked him with tears: "You not only saved the child, but also saved our entire family."
Zhao Weiping (middle) received the banner. Photo by Zhu Junlin
The Fenyang City Bravery Association recognized Zhao Weiping's act of bravery in saving people and awarded him an honorary bonus. Later, Zhao Weiping took the initiative to donate all the bonus to the needy families of the heroes who sacrificed themselves to save others. "The families of heroes should not be left out. I have full respect for them and hope that the spirit of bravery for justice can continue to be passed on."
Zhao Weiping's decisiveness when rescuing people can be traced in earlier experiences.
In the 1980s, young Zhao Weiping went to the military camp to train and won two academy awards. After taking off his military uniform, in 2003, Zhao Weiping was transferred to the post of chief of the Security Department of Fenyang Hospital. At that time, the perimeter of the emergency department was occupied by more than a dozen criminals, and more than a dozen modified "ambulances" were extorted in the name of transporting patients. Zhao Weiping said: "This matter must be dealt with to the end." During this period, his life was threatened several times, but he was not afraid of the threats and insisted on justice and continued to search for clues and fix evidence. On March 17, 2004, the gang was all dealt with in accordance with the law.
Over the years, with the assistance of the security team led by Zhao Weiping, the police recovered many lost mobile phones for patients, destroyed 5 medical and drug dens, arrested more than 300 related illegal personnel, and solved 11 criminal cases.
In addition to protecting the safety of the hospital, Zhao Weiping also keeps his life alive in another way. Since his youth, Zhao Weiping has insisted on donating blood for free, and has never stopped for 21 years, accumulating 28 times, with a total blood donation of 10,600 ml, equivalent to the entire blood volume of two adults. In 2020, he won the National Gold Award for Voluntary Blood Donation. He also contacted the armed police and other units to organize 269 blood donations, effectively alleviating the problem of blood supply shortage in the hospital.
In addition to blood donation, Zhao Weiping has also continued to make public welfare donations for many years. After the Wenchuan earthquake, Yushu earthquake, local floods and other disasters, he actively donated money and materials as soon as possible; for 15 consecutive years, he donated rice, flour and oil to Fenyang Ximen Home for the Elderly during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Double Ninth Festival or Spring Festival, equivalent to more than 40,000 yuan. When employees were seriously ill, he paid his own condolences and took the lead in organizing all hospital employees to raise funds for seriously ill colleagues; he also paid a special party dues of 1,100 yuan and made other various donations of more than 30,000 yuan.
"It's nothing special. I just don't want to see others being wronged or suffering, so I can help if I can." Zhao Wei usually said this. (over)
