Stunning reunion story: Man missing since 2001 finds biological father through DNA test

Stories about families finding each other after many years often move people deeply. One such reunion from China has recently drawn attention. A man who went missing as a child and spent most of his life growing up in another country has finally reunited with his biological father after more than two decades.

The meeting brought an end to years of separation and uncertainty for both of them.

Child went missing at railway station

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the incident happened in 2001 when Zhang Yunpeng was four years old. He got separated from his family at Shenyang Railway Station in Liaoning province in northeastern China.

At the time, he was with his uncle. The uncle had stepped away briefly to buy ice cream. During that short period, the boy went missing.

Later, he was taken to a municipal welfare centre. There, he was given a new name, Shen Huabai, and raised under institutional care.

Adoption and difficult upbringing

According to the report, in 2005, Zhang Yunpeng was adopted by a Canadian couple and moved to Canada. However, his situation changed soon after.

Just three months later, the couple divorced and neither of them wanted to raise him. Local authorities then placed him with a homestay family that already had nine children.

Zhang later said he did not receive much care there. After finishing secondary school, he started working to support himself.

Father’s situation in China

When Zhang Yunpeng went missing, his biological father Zhang Jiucheng was in jail. As per the report, during that period, Zhang’s mother left the family and later remarried.

The father and son remained separated for many years without contact.

Search for biological parents

Last year, Zhang Yunpeng decided to look for his biological parents. After seeing successful reunion stories on social media, he contacted a mainland Chinese organisation called Baby Returning Home.

According to the South China Morning Post, the group connected him with Gao Yang, a Chinese PhD student in Canada who volunteered to help.

“When I saw him for the first time, he looked miserable and was extremely thin,” Gao was quoted as saying.

Zhang’s blood sample was sent to China’s national DNA database. Days later, the system identified his biological parents.

Emotional reunion after two decades

The reunion took place on March 2 in Huinan County in Jilin Province in northeastern China.

When Zhang Yunpeng met his father, both of them became emotional and hugged each other.

“After more than 20 years, I saw you finally,” Zhang senior said, Jimu News reported.

Zhang Yunpeng replied with his rusty Chinese: “Dad, I love you.”

Before meeting his son, Zhang Jiucheng had transferred 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) to him.

“I will try my best to compensate him. I will give the best things to him,” said the father.

Mother yet to reunite

Zhang Yunpeng has not yet reunited with his biological mother, who lives in another province.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, he is currently a Canadian citizen and is expected to return to Canada in a few weeks due to visa issues. His future plans are not yet clear.
Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)