THE ANGEL OF NANJING: ONE MAN’S 20-YEAR MISSION SAVING LIVES ON THE YANGTZE RIVER BRIDGE

For more than two decades, Chen Si has dedicated his life to patrolling the famous Yangtze River Bridge in China. Known to many as the “Angel of Nanjing,” he does not walk the bridge for exercise or personal leisure, but to offer desperate strangers a second chance at life. Since 2003, Chen has spent his weekends and spare time watching for people in deep crisis, stepping in at the precise moment when they need human connection the most.

Through relentless dedication, Chen has managed to save at least 469 lives, often physically pulling individuals back from the edge of the high railing. Yet his compassionate work does not end with a physical rescue. Recognizing that underlying struggles remain after the immediate danger passes, he offers those he saves food, temporary shelter, financial help, and most importantly, an empathetic ear to help them rebuild their lives after their darkest moments.

Chen is neither a professional therapist nor a trained medical doctor. He is simply an ordinary citizen who made an extraordinary choice to keep showing up for others. His decades of quiet service demonstrate how a single person’s commitment, patience, and presence can become the very reason someone chooses to keep living when all hope seems lost.