The Heartbreaking Story of Li Jingzhi and Her Son

In 1988, a mother’s world shattered when her two-year-old son vanished in Xi’an, China. Li Jingzhi’s story is one of unbreakable love, tireless determination, and a remarkable legacy of helping others. For over 32 years, she searched across 20 provinces and hundreds of towns, never giving up hope. Along the way, she reunited 29 other children with their families, turning her pain into purpose. At Phacts, we’re diving deep into this incredible journey of Li Jingzhi reunited with her son, sharing every detail of her emotional and inspiring story.

A Happy Family Torn Apart

Li Jingzhi and her husband, Mao Zhenjing, lived a simple life in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province. Their son, Mao Yin, nicknamed Jia Jia, was their pride and joy. Born in 1986, he was a curious and cheerful toddler. Weekends were filled with family outings to the zoo or local parks. One memory stuck with Li forever: when Jia Jia, barely one and a half, spotted a worm at the zoo, held it up, and giggled, “Mama, worm!” It was a moment of pure innocence.

But on October 17, 1988, everything changed. Mao Zhenjing was picking Jia Jia up from kindergarten. The toddler, just two and a half, asked for a drink of water. They stopped at a small hotel owned by the family. Mao stepped away for just a moment to cool the water, and when he turned back, Jia Jia was gone. It was a parent’s worst nightmare.

The Heartbreaking Search Begins

Li was away on a business trip when she got the news. Her manager delivered the words that would haunt her: “Your son is missing.” Her mind went blank. She rushed home, hoping it was a mistake, that Jia Jia had just wandered off and would be found soon. “I thought kind-hearted people would bring him back to me,” she later said. But days turned into weeks, and no one brought Jia Jia to a police station.

Li and her husband searched desperately. They went door to door in the neighborhood near the hotel, asking if anyone had seen their son. They followed every lead, no matter how small. Li’s heart ached, but she refused to believe Jia Jia was gone forever. She left her job to focus on finding him, pouring every ounce of energy into the search.

A Mother’s Endless Efforts

Li didn’t just sit and wait. She took action by printing and handing out over 100,000 flyers with Jia Jia’s picture, traveling to towns and cities across China. She appeared on TV shows, sharing her story and pleading for help. Each time she spoke, her voice carried both pain and hope. “He was a clever, healthy boy,” she told reporters, clinging to memories of her son.

The search wasn’t easy. Li faced countless dead ends. One lead took her across provinces to meet a boy she thought might be Jia Jia, only to realize he wasn’t her son. Each disappointment felt like losing him all over again. Yet, Li kept going. She couldn’t stop, not when there was even a tiny chance Jia Jia was out there.

Turning Pain into Purpose

In 2007, after 19 years of searching, Li found a new way to cope. She joined “Baby Come Home,” a volunteer group that helps families find missing children. Working with other parents who shared her pain made her feel less alone. “There were so many volunteers helping us,” she said. “I felt touched by this.”

Through Baby Come Home, Li did something extraordinary. While still looking for Jia Jia, she helped other families reunite with their lost children. Over the years, she connected 29 children with their parents. Each reunion was bittersweet—joy for those families, but a reminder that her own son was still missing. “Even if I can’t find my child, I can help others,” she told herself. Her selflessness turned her grief into a mission.

A Breakthrough in Technology

In 2009, China took a big step forward in fighting child abductions. The government created a national DNA database. Parents who had lost children could register their DNA, and so could adults who suspected they might have been taken as kids. This gave Li new hope. She added her DNA to the database, praying it would one day lead to Jia Jia.

The database was a game-changer. It helped solve thousands of cases across China. Most missing children, like Jia Jia, were boys, often taken to be raised by childless couples or families without sons, especially in rural areas. Li learned this through her work with Baby Come Home. She saw the patterns but never lost focus on her goal.

A Tip That Changed Everything

For years, Li followed hundreds of leads, but none brought her closer to Jia Jia. Then, in April 2020, everything shifted. Police in Xi’an got a tip about a man in Sichuan province, over 600 miles away. Someone had paid 6,000 yuan (about $840 today) to adopt a boy from Xi’an years ago. Could it be Jia Jia?

The police acted quickly. They tracked down the man, now 34 years old, and used facial recognition technology to compare his photos to old pictures of Jia Jia. The resemblance was striking. To be sure, they ran a DNA test. When the results came back, they confirmed what Li had dreamed of for decades: the man was her son, Mao Yin.

The Reunion of a Lifetime

On May 10, 2020—Mother’s Day in China—Li got the call she’d been waiting for. The police told her Jia Jia had been found. “It was the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” she said, tears streaming down her face. She could hardly believe it. After 32 years, she would see her son again.

The reunion happened on May 18, 2020, at the Xi’an police station. It was a moment filled with emotion. Li and Mao Yin, now a grown man, ran to each other, sobbing as they hugged. Mao’s father, though no longer married to Li, was there too, overwhelmed with joy. “I don’t want to be separated from him anymore,” Li said, holding her son’s hand tightly.

Mao Yin, who had been renamed Gu Ningning by the couple who raised him, was just as emotional. He ran a home decoration business in Sichuan and had no idea he was the boy Li had been searching for. He’d seen her on TV talking about her missing son but never made the connection. Now, standing with his mother, he promised to spend time with her and his father in Xi’an.

A Mother and Son Reconnect

After the reunion, Li and Mao Yin began rebuilding their bond. They took photos together, capturing moments they’d missed for 32 years. Li’s favorite was one from the day after the reunion, taken in a park. In it, she and Mao Yin stand side by side, smiling, their resemblance undeniable. “My son’s personality is so similar to mine,” Li said. “It feels like we were never apart.”

Mao Yin faced a complex reality. The couple who raised him had loved him as their own, but his life had been shaped by a crime. He spoke kindly of them, calling them his “adoptive mother” and “adoptive father.” Still, he wanted to know the truth. Who took him that day in 1988? Why? The police were investigating, but answers were slow to come.

The Bigger Picture of Child Abductions

Li’s story shines a light on a serious issue in China. Child abductions have long been a problem, with estimates of 20,000 to 70,000 children taken each year. Many, like Mao Yin, are sold to families desperate for a son due to cultural preferences and the one-child policy, which limited families to a single child until 2015. Boys often fetched higher prices on the black market.

Thanks to efforts like the DNA database and groups like Baby Come Home, thousands of families have been reunited. Since 2009, over 6,300 children have found their parents through DNA tests. Online platforms, like one called “Reunion” launched in 2016, have helped too, locating over 4,000 missing kids. Li believes these efforts, along with media attention, have reduced abductions, but the fight isn’t over.

Li’s Lasting Legacy

Even after finding Mao Yin, Li didn’t stop helping others. She continued working with Baby Come Home, driven by the same hope that kept her going for 32 years. “There are still many families looking for their children,” she said. Her work has inspired countless people, showing that love and determination can move mountains.

Li’s story isn’t just about her reunion. It’s about the 29 other children she helped bring home. As well as the volunteers, police, and strangers who supported her. It’s also about a mother who turned her pain into a force for good, proving that even in the darkest times, hope can light the way.

What Happened to the Kidnappers?

The investigation into Jia Jia’s abduction is ongoing. Li wants justice for the 32 years of anguish she endured. She hopes the police will find out who took her son and why. For now, she’s focused on making new memories with Mao Yin, but the question of what happened in 1988 lingers.

Mao Yin, meanwhile, is navigating his new reality. He plans to split his time between Xi’an, where his biological parents live, and Sichuan, where he built his life. He’s grateful for the love of both families but admits he’s unsure about the future. “I’ll figure it out step by step,” he said.

A Story That Touches Hearts

Li Jingzhi reunited with her son is a story that resonates with people worldwide. It’s a reminder of a mother’s unbreakable love and the power of never giving up. At Phacts, we’re honored to share this tale of resilience and hope. It shows that even after decades of heartbreak, miracles can happen.

Li’s journey also highlights the importance of community. From the volunteers at Baby Come Home to the police who used technology to find Mao Yin, countless people played a role in this reunion. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we work together.

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Stories like Li Jingzhi’s remind us how powerful human connection can be. At Phacts, we’re all about uncovering true, inspiring stories and sharing them with you. Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletter for more tales of hope, courage, and triumph. Follow us on social media and join the conversation—share your thoughts on Li’s incredible journey. Let’s keep spreading positivity together!

Li Jingzhi reunited with her son after 32 years, and her story will stay with us forever. It’s a beacon of light in a world that sometimes feels heavy. So, dive into more stories like this on phactsblog.com, and let’s keep the inspiration flowing.

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