bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Yating Yang

It is a dilemma for parents everywhere, how to keep their child occupied during a long journey, especially on public transport.
One father in China recently came up with a cheap and easy solution that went viral when a video of his daughter was posted on social media, amusing many people online.
The father from Kunming, Yunnan province in southwestern China, was travelling with his child on a high-speed train, reported the newspaper Dushi Shibao.
Concerned that his young daughter might be noisy on the train and disturb other passengers, he gave her a cabbage to peel during the journey.
In the trending video, the little girl is clearly absorbed in the task of peeling back the layers from various angles and placing the leaves on the tray table in front of her.

Sometimes she sits on her father’s lap and other times on her own seat, while the father naps or plays games on his phone.
For the duration of the journey, which transitions from day to night, she remains engaged in her task.
“The child is very lively and energetic. To prevent her from disturbing others, he brought a cabbage for her to peel. The girl was peeling for more than an hour,” the unnamed person who filmed the pair said.
The destination of the train was not specified in the report, but before leaving, the girl and her father collected the cabbage leaves and disposed of them in a small plastic bag before tidying up their area.
This creative solution to managing the behaviour of a child on public transport has resonated widely.
“If the child can peel for an hour, it shows she has strong focus. Many children would lose interest in a few minutes and start playing with something else. She might be a top student in the future,” said one online observer.
“When my child was only a year old, I gave him a big steamed bun to nibble on bit by bit on the train, keeping him occupied without needing to buy train food,” another person said.

“What a unique way to keep a child occupied. After the train ride, you can cook the cabbage,” suggested another.
“It shows there’s no child that cannot be managed, just parents who do not want to manage them,” said a fourth.
This father was not the only parent to keep his child occupied in this way during a long journey.
In June, a couple from Shenzhen did the same with their one-year-old daughter who was dressed in a princess outfit.
In another case in the southeastern province of Fujian, parents gave their child three pounds of green beans to snap during a trip.


Man in China fired for napping at desk after working late, sues firm, awarded US$48,000

China cabby stunned when passenger confessed ‘I killed a person’, he helps capture suspect

China mother jailed for abandoning son with brain injuries inflicted during family dispute

China’s second-richest man demands apology from ByteDance founder over online attacks

Trending in China

Cabbage trick stops China toddler going off rails on high-speed train

A father in China found an ingenious way to keep his toddler daughter occupied on a train journey. He gave her a cabbage to peel. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The little girl quietly peels the cabbage, allowing her father to sleep and keeping her fellow passengers happy. Photo: Weibo

After the peeling job was completed, the toddler put the cabbage leaves in a rubbish bag. Photo: Weibo

Why cicadas are popular among daring foodies in China and are consumed as a delicacy

The Post delves into the curious world of eating cicadas in China. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin/Baidu

A woman works her way through a pile of the insects, cleaning them before selling. Photo: Weibo

Cicadas can be fried, braised or sautéed in garlic to make a deliciously unusual dish. Photo: Weibo

China Xiaohongshu users unite to help older strangers akin to caring for own parents

Young people in China have launched a Good Samaritan-like initiative on social media to help older strangers in need. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Xiaohongshu

One slogan used in the campaign is “shared son” as seen on the T-shirt worn above. Photo Xiaohongshu

Young people are helping out strangers in a myriad of ways, like carrying heavy items for them. Photo Xiaohongshu

More and more young people are joining the campaign via the Xiaohongshu social media platform. Photo: Xiaohongshu 

‘Live well now’: China celebrity couple praised for ending lab ordeal of severely injured beagle

A celebrity couple in China have been widely praised after they rescued a badly injured beagle dog which had been used for laboratory research. Photo: SCMP composite/Xiaohongshu

The couple found the dog shivering in some bushes by the roadside and took it in. Photo: Xiaohongshu

An examination by a veterinary surgeon revealed that the dog had been used in laboratory experiments. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Actor Du Jiang and the beagle he and his actress wife called Pearl. Photo: Xiaohongshu

School in China makes students stand to eat in canteen, separating boys from girls

In a Chinese school, students are required to stand while eating in the canteen, with segregated arrangements for boys and girls. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin

Some have explained that the separation of male and female students aims to deter early romantic relationships to prioritise their studies. Photo: Baidu

The school said that students are encouraged to stretch their legs and move around after prolonged periods of sitting in the classroom. Photo: Baidu

‘Pursue your dreams’: woman proud of mother, 53, graduating from top China university

A woman has expressed her pride in her 53-year-old mother, who successfully balanced work, and family responsibilities, and recently graduated from a prestigious university in China. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

The mother’s success in her career and education has inspired many on mainland social media. Photo: Weibo

The mother’s story symbolises a growing trend where individuals pursue higher education later in life, showing that age is not a barrier to academic achievement. Photo: Weibo

News

People & Culture

China father finds creative solution to address concerns his little girl might be noisy and disturb other passengers


A smart father in China found a cheap and easy solution to entertain his toddler while the two travelled together on public transport, leaving him free to nap and play games.


Parenting: newborns to toddlers

Children in China