Chinese man helps tourist take photo only to discover stranger is long-lost relative

When a man in China went travelling and helped a Taiwanese tourist take pictures, they chatted casually only to find out that the tourist was a long-lost relative of the man’s family.This incredible experience was shared on social media by the man, Chen Jie, who lives in Shanghai, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported.In early July, Chen took a business trip to Yunnan province in southwest China. During a break from his work, he travelled to Lugu Lake, a famous tourist site.At 6am on July 9, as Chen was watching the sunrise by the lake, a tourist, who looked much older than him, asked him to help with taking a photo.They then kicked off a conversation from which Chen learned that this “older brother” was from Kaohsiung in Taiwan, but his ancestral home was Puyuan, a small town in Tongxiang in eastern Zhejiang province.In early July, Chen travelled for business to southwest China’s Yunnan province. During a work break, he visited the famous Lugu Lake, where the “magical” coincidence unfolded. Photo: ShutterstockThis excited Chen because his hometown was also Puyuan. They took a photo together and swapped contact details on social media. Chen found the tourist was surnamed Fei.Fei’s personal information prompted Chen to speculate that he was a relative.Chen sent his thoughts to his father, who asked Chen to check whether Fei’s father was named Fei Yunfeng.Fei gave a positive answer. Chen later called Fei to verify some other details before confirming that Fei was a family member who had been out of contact for decades.According to Chen, Fei’s father and Chen’s grandfather were brothers. Fei’s father moved to Taiwan with Kuomintang forces before the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949.Chen’s grandfather was adopted by a couple surnamed Chen, thus changing his surname.“Based on the seniority in our family, I should call this older brother my uncle,” Chen was quoted as saying.After taking a photo together, the pair swapped social media details and stayed in touch, as seen in this screengrab of their chat. Photo: Jimu News“I shared this discovery with my extended family of about 20 members. All of them said this was incredibly coincidental and it was a magical experience,” he added.Further ReadingFei’s father and Chen’s grandfather lost contact for decades. Then, in the late 1980s, Taiwanese were allowed to go back to mainland China to visit their relatives.But Fei’s father did not manage to make such a trip. Instead, he sent a letter to his brother in 1991 and asked other people to pass US$200 to Chen’s grandfather.“At that time, people on the mainland generally lived a poor life. US$200 was a stupendous sum!” Chen said.Chen’s family still keeps this letter from more than three decades ago.Chen’s family still treasures the letter Fei’s father sent to his mainland brother more than 30 years ago. Photo: Jimu News“The money represents my concern and care for you. I cannot return to the mainland this year. Let me find an opportunity next year. I wish my relatives to be healthy and happy,” the senior Fei wrote in the letter.Fei’s father and Chen’s grandfather both passed away many years ago.Fei said he was also astonished by the amazing coincidence.“There were many people at the tour site, but I chose Chen Jie to take photos for me. We were destined to meet,” he said.He said he planned to go to Puyuan next month to meet Chen’s family.“The bond between our two families may well fall to our generation to sustain in the future,” Chen said.