(China, 15th) — 28 years ago, a baby girl was abandoned by her own grandfather just two days after birth; 28 years later, she traveled all the way from Europe back to China in search of her biological parents. This cross-generational family tragedy recently welcomed a reunion moment in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
According to multiple media reports, Hong Yangli arrived in Nanchang from the Netherlands on the 12th and was reunited with her long-lost biological parents with the help of volunteers. It is understood that she was born on November 5, 1998, and was abandoned by her grandfather in a Nanchang street toilet just two days later. She was discovered and sent to a local welfare institute, and a year later, she was adopted by a Dutch couple and subsequently taken to the Netherlands, where she has lived and grown up ever since.
Growing up overseas, Hong Yangli always had questions about her origins. In December 2024, through the help of volunteers from the grassroots family search platform “Baby Come Home,” she sought out her birth family. After multiple checks and DNA testing, her biological parents’ identities were confirmed in July 2025, allowing the separated family bond to be reconnected after 28 years.
Regarding the reason for the abandonment, Hong Yangli’s biological mother revealed that the incident stemmed from the severe male preference held by the family elders; shortly after her birth, the grandfather secretly took her away. The family searched everywhere but could not find her. Now the grandfather has passed away, and the past can hardly be pursued anymore.
Hong Yangli’s father stated that over the years, the whole family has felt deep regret over the incident and dared not blame the elders too much. His wife has endured immense psychological pressure as a result: “She has suffered so much over the years.”
With the announcement of the DNA results, the 28-year separation finally saw a turning point. Hong Yangli has recently arrived in Nanchang. Before the official reunion, she visited city streets and sampled local delicacies to gradually get to know her birthplace. Meanwhile, the family is making preparations for a reunion ceremony, hoping to make up for the missing years of family affection with a grand welcoming event.
Faced with outside doubts about whether the parents knew or consented to the abandonment, Hong Yangli’s father responded that there are many misunderstandings and speculations online, but they do not wish to argue further. “Having our daughter come home is more important than anything.”
