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5 weird and wonderful China stories that stood out in 2020

  • From Wuhan’s heroic pet rescuers to Blackpink’s internet roasting regarding pandas, this year’s stories have run the gamut from heartwarming to hysterical
  • There’s also the camel that trudged 100km home to find its owner after being sold, and the ’80s Taiwanese singer who became a hit in Europe

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Tibetan herdsman Zhaxi Dingzhen became a symbol for China’s war on extreme poverty when a video featuring him went viral. Millions of people were captivated by his smile and good looks. Photo: YouTube

No matter how much we would like to forget 2020, it will be a year that everyone remembers.

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The pandemic has dramatically changed lives and the course of history, and its ripple effects – still being felt globally – will continue for many years to come.

But amid the sorrow, distress and challenges, there have also been stories that have warmed the heart and made us laugh. As the year draws to a close, here are five from China.

Pet rescuers in Wuhan

After the Chinese government locked down Wuhan in late January, pet owners who couldn’t return to their homes begged for help to make sure their furry friends didn’t die.

Volunteers from a range of animal groups in Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, raced to save starving and neglected pets. Many of the dogs and cats had been left alone in homes with little food and water because their owners did not expect to be away for so long.

Animal-rights volunteers came to the rescue, leaving water and pet food to last more than a month. In some cases, volunteers took pets to homes of their owner’s friends, or to veterinary clinics.

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A cat in a Wuhan home after volunteers left food and water. Photo: Wuhan Pet Life Online
A cat in a Wuhan home after volunteers left food and water. Photo: Wuhan Pet Life Online

The lockdown took place during the Chinese New Year holiday when many people left the city but thought they would be back in a week.

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