Father finally reunited with son 24 years after he was abducted
A father has finally been reunited with his abducted son after an epic 24-year search spanning almost the whole of China.
Guo Gangtang, 51, and his wife both cried when they hugged Guo Xinzhen, 26, for the first time since he was two years old on Sunday.
The then-toddler had been playing outside the family home in the eastern province of Shandong in 1997 when a woman snatched him. He was later sold to a family in central China.
After reporting his son missing Mr Guo launched his own hunt, travelling 300,000 miles to more than 20 provinces on a motorbike with a flag bearing the boy’s picture chasing tip-offs and handing out flyers.
He fought off highway robbers, slept under bridges and had to beg for money when he eventually burned through his savings.
His quest to find his son inspired the blockbuster film ‘Lost and Love’, in which famous Hong Kong actor Andy Lau’s main character utters the line: ‘Only by searching can I feel like a true father.’
In 2012, Mr Guo set up a website ‘Tianya Xunqin’ which translates as ‘Find your family on the edge of the world’. It has since helped dozens of people locate family members.
Mr Guo told reporters he had previously visited the city where his son grew up to help another father locate his kidnapped child.
Speaking in a video posted on his TikTok page, he said: I’ve found my son, and I want to get back to normal life as soon as possible.’
Remarkably, he appeared to hold no ill feelings towards the family who raised his boy, saying: ‘If our son is willing to support his adoptive parents, we also accept that and respect his decision.’
The pair were reunited after the Ministry of Public Security launched a nationwide campaign this January to solve cold cases involving child abduction.
Police have located and rescued 2,609 missing or abducted children this year, including adults who had gone missing or were kidnapped as kids.
One victim was traced after 61 years.
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