A woman in Wenzhou, China, has been reunited with her biological parents after more than three decades, a reunion made possible through a video she stumbled upon on a short-video platform. The striking resemblance between her and the woman in the video led her to seek help from local police. A subsequent DNA test confirmed the two were mother and daughter.
The reunion, which took place at the Zeyang Police Station in the Ouhai District of Wenzhou, brought an emotional end to a 30-year search. The woman, identified as Ms. Yan, 32, said she had always known she was adopted but had few memories of her birth family.
The story began on June 3 when Ms. Yan saw a video featuring Ms. Xu, who bore a strong resemblance to her. This discovery prompted her to visit the police station. Following her request, officials with the Zeyang Police Station, led by instructor Ma Jianling, collected a DNA sample from Ms. Yan and contacted the police and Ms. Xu in Jiangxi, China, where the video originated.
Ms. Xu said her family, due to financial hardship, had to place their third child in foster care 30 years ago, but the girl subsequently disappeared. The family never gave up hope, despite multiple failed DNA comparisons over the years. In June 2022, Ms. Xu began using a short-video platform to share her story and assist others in their search for missing relatives, hoping to harness the power of the internet to find her daughter.
Upon hearing the news of the successful DNA match, Ms. Xu’s family traveled overnight from Jiangxi to Wenzhou. Ms. Yan stated that her adoptive parents, who also hail from Jiangxi, were supportive and happy for her. The reunion was an emotional moment for both families.
Since the Ministry of Public Security launched its “Reunion” initiative, Ouhai police have established free DNA collection sites and have helped nearly 20 families reunite.