Strangers attend Harbin grandmother's funeral after online plea

In a moving display of solidarity, dozens of strangers gathered at the funeral of a netizen's grandmother to pay their respects recently, leaving many online users touched by the warmth of human kindness.

A netizen posted a request for help on the social media platform Xiaohongshu, saying her grandmother had passed away at age 90, and asking netizens to attend the funeral and accompany her on her "final journey".

In the post, the netizen said she didn't want her grandmother to leave the world alone, but as an introverted person, she had a small social circle and most of her friends were outside Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province. She asked netizens to attend the funeral, saying that "in the future, if you need any help, I will do my best to assist without hesitation".

Her request prompted a flood of support and offers to attend from people she had never met. Those unable to attend provided suggestions and advice on funeral arrangements.

According to netizens who attended, Harbin experienced a heavy snowfall on the day of the funeral, making travel difficult. Despite this, dozens of netizens still managed to reach the site of the ceremony, with many others stuck on the way because of the snow.

One attendee, surnamed Ye, told Xinmin Evening News that he was traveling in Harbin from Zhejiang province with his girlfriend when he came across the request online and decided to attend the funeral. On the day of the funeral, heavy snow blanketed the city, and taxis were hard to come by, yet they were determined to keep their promise.

Despite severe traffic caused by the snow, dozens of young people made it to the funeral and accompanied the grandmother on her final journey. "With so many people here to bid her farewell, she would surely rest in peace," he said.

Later that afternoon, the woman who posted the plea reached out to Ye, expressing her gratitude. Upon learning that Ye and his girlfriend planned to visit Shenyang the next day, she gifted them dining vouchers as a gesture of thanks.

On Wednesday, the woman who sought help shared an update, noting her appreciation for the successful conclusion of the funeral. "Despite the heavy snow in Harbin, many friends still managed to come and pay their respects," she wrote.

The story touched the hearts of many. One user with the screen name Yadong commented, "This is the true meaning of the internet! The world is a warm place." Another user, Lu Xixin, said, "I've never seen anything like this before. It's heartwarming to see promises being kept, even by tourists visiting the Northeast. A funeral can also be a life lesson."

A user named Xiaotaitai said, "True social connections are like this: when you're in trouble, I help you, and when I face difficulties, you help me. Even a word of encouragement or a hug makes kindness worthwhile."