Sixteen years after a dramatic rescue from a river, Zheng Yan, a young woman from eastern China, has earned admission to the prestigious Peking University. She shared this milestone with Yu Xianguo, the 66-year-old retired naval serviceman who saved her life as a toddler.

In August 2010, two-year-old Zheng Yan was traveling with her grandparents on a three-wheeled vehicle preparing to board a ferry in Taizhou, Zhejiang province. The vehicle collided with a pillar, injuring her grandparents and causing Zheng to be thrown into the river.

Yu Xianguo, who served five years in the military, immediately jumped into the river upon hearing of the accident. He held Zheng above the water until bystanders could pull her to safety.

This story was reported by mainland media outlet Xinhuanghe and covered by the South China Morning Post World on August 1, 2026.

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