In the early hours of June 23rd, just before 6:15 a.m., a heartwarming rescue took place near Bazhiqiao in Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City. Grandma Tao, a local resident, accidentally tumbled into the river by a dock. At this critical juncture, a young Russian woman—Shahonas, born after 1995 and visiting Shaoxing as a tourist—leapt into action, jumping into the water to save the elderly woman.
Shahonas happened to be passing by Bazhiqiao when she noticed someone struggling in the water. Without hesitation, she sprinted off the bridge, dropped her backpack on the riverbank, and plunged into the river. “I’ve been swimming since childhood, so I didn’t stop to think—I just jumped in to help,” Shahonas recounted. By the time she reached the elderly woman, Grandma Tao had already ingested a significant amount of water, was in a state of panic, and was rapidly sinking.
The early-morning river water was icy cold. Shahonas braced her feet against a shallow area of the riverbed, wrapped her arms tightly around the woman from behind, and fought her way toward the shore. The rescue was complicated by the fact that Grandma Tao couldn’t swim and was paralyzed by fear. As she supported the woman, Shahonas comforted her in Chinese, saying, “Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay.” Meanwhile, bystanders rushed to help, extending a long rescue pole over the water. With their combined efforts, the elderly woman was finally pulled to safety.
While others tended to Grandma Tao, an exhausted Shahonas walked over to her luggage, retrieved her phone, and sent a message to her mother back home to let her know she was safe. “My child, you’ve saved a life. I’m so proud of you,” her mother, a teacher, replied three hours later.
Shahonas, who recently graduated from Huzhou Normal University’s International Chinese Language Education program, has developed a deep affection for the southern city of Shaoxing and plans to pursue a master’s degree there. She has a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture and has read works by renowned Shaoxing literary figures such as Lu You and Lu Xun. “I’ve always wanted to visit the places where these writers once lived and experience the charm of Shaoxing firsthand,” she said.
According to Niu Yue, a counselor at the university’s School of International Education, Shahonas is an enthusiastic and dedicated student. During her time at the university, she joined the international student lion dance team and faithfully attended rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday evening.
This was Shahonas’s first trip to Shaoxing, part of a planned three-day sightseeing tour. The day of the rescue was her final day exploring the city. “Since I was leaving that afternoon, I wanted to make the most of the quiet morning by visiting a few more attractions and taking some photos. That’s how I ended up near Bazhiqiao, close to my hotel,” she recalled. She had just arrived when she witnessed the elderly woman falling into the river. “There was no time to think—I just kept telling myself to hurry, faster!” she said.
After the rescue, Grandma Tao’s family invited Shahonas to their home to rest and even provided her with clean clothes to change into. “They also exchanged contact information with me and said that next time I visit Shaoxing, I must come to their home for a meal and a chat,” Shahonas said with a smile. She described Shaoxing as a city rich in beauty and culture, where both the scenery and the people felt warm and welcoming. “This small incident during my trip has given me a deeper connection to the city. I’ll definitely return in the future to explore more of Shaoxing.”
