‘You’re not ugly’: Chinese driver’s kindness to blind passenger wins millions of hearts online

A video of a ride-hailing driver in southwestern China reassuring a blind passenger about his appearance has gone viral, touching hearts across mainland social media.

The driver, surnamed Wang, recently picked up a visually impaired passenger in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and helped him into the car after the platform flagged the booking as requiring accessible service.

Wang later clarified that passengers who register with disability certificates have their bookings automatically marked as accessible service requests, rather than being assigned to specific drivers.

The passenger, surnamed Ou, asked whether Wang had been reluctant to accept the booking after learning he was blind.

“What’s the big deal? People should understand each other. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes,” Wang replied.

Ou said he lost his sight to a fever when he was one year old, leaving him in complete darkness for the past 48 years.

His mother died when he was three, and his father passed away several years ago. Ou now earns a living as a massage therapist.

Overcome with emotion, Wang rolled up his car window to hide his tears from passers-by.

Ou then took off his sunglasses, explaining that he wore them to conceal what he considered his unattractive appearance.

“Brother, you’re not ugly,” Wang reassured him.

Moved by the remark, Ou offered Wang a 20-yuan (US$3) tip, saying: “Just from those words, I know you are a good person.”

The pair exchanged contact details and arranged a return journey.

Ou later offered Wang a 100-yuan cash gift and a mobile phone credit top-up, but Wang declined both.

Wang said that respecting Ou meant treating him as an equal, rather than defining him by his disability.

“If you ever run into trouble, I’ll be there to help you, whether you give me money or not,” Wang promised.

The two men have since struck up a friendship and shared a meal, according to Chengdu media.

Ou, who has never married and has no children or savings, described the encounter as an unprecedented source of warmth.

Wang, meanwhile, said he admired Ou’s resilience and optimism. A military veteran, he dismissed his own gesture as a small act of kindness.

He has also pledged to drive Ou free of charge between Chengdu and his hometown, more than 200km away, whenever he needs a ride.

The video, uploaded by Wang, has received more than 7.4 million likes and widespread praise.

“Empathy is the essence of kindness,” one online observer commented.

Another wrote: “They are healing each other. Ou is remarkable. Despite being blind for almost his entire life, he has managed to earn a living through his own skills.”