On the vast span of the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, thousands of lives have ended in silence. For decades, the bridge has been one of the world’s most notorious suicide hotspots. But standing quietly against despair is a single man in a red vest that reads: “Cherish life every day.” His name is Chen Si, and over the last 21 years, he has saved nearly 469 people from the brink of death.

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A Guardian on the Bridge

Chen Si, now in his 50s, began patrolling the Yangtze River Bridge in December 2003. At the time, he had no official training, no institutional backing, and no financial support—just a determination to do something about the tragedies he saw too often in his city.

Almost every weekend since, Chen has made the same routine: ten trips a day across the bridge, scanning the faces and body language of strangers. His eyes are trained for the signs—slumped shoulders, vacant stares, people lingering too long by the railings. When he sees someone in distress, he approaches gently, offers conversation, and sometimes physically pulls them back from the edge.

The toll is immense. The bridge sees hundreds of suicide attempts each year, but Chen’s quiet vigilance has given hope where none seemed to exist. By 2024, international media confirmed he had rescued 469 individuals—a staggering number for a lone volunteer.

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Beyond Rescue: Rebuilding Lives

Chen’s mission doesn’t end when a life is pulled back from the rail. He often spends his own savings to help survivors rebuild—paying for food, temporary shelter, job searches, and even tuition fees for those too young to stand on their own.

“To save a life is not just to stop a jump,” Chen told reporters in earlier interviews. “It is to help them find a reason to live again.”

For many, Chen becomes not just a rescuer but a mentor, a listener, and a reminder that their existence matters.

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A Bridge of Despair

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, completed in 1968, is an architectural landmark of China but also carries a darker reputation. With heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic, it has tragically been a magnet for suicide attempts for decades.

International outlets like the South China Morning Post, NDTV, and Good News Network have chronicled Chen’s mission, calling him the “Angel of Nanjing.” His story has been told in documentaries and even a 2016 film titled The Angel of Nanjing, bringing global attention to both his work and the mental health crisis it highlights.

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The Cost of Compassion

Chen admits the work is grueling, both emotionally and financially. Watching people wrestle with despair week after week takes a toll. He has spoken of sleepless nights, overwhelming sadness, and the burden of carrying other people’s pain.

Yet, despite the hardship, he continues. His philosophy is simple: every life matters. For Chen, one saved life outweighs years of exhaustion.

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A Global Lesson

Chen Si’s story is not just about one man’s extraordinary compassion; it is a stark reminder of the importance of mental health support worldwide. Suicide remains a leading cause of death across countries, often shrouded in stigma and silence. Chen’s persistence shows the difference one person can make—yet also underscores the need for broader systems of care.

In a city of millions, Chen walks the bridge mostly alone. But his presence has turned a place of despair into a beacon of hope, one encounter at a time.

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A Quiet Hero

Chen Si does not see himself as a hero. “I’m just an ordinary man,” he once said. Yet his actions have rippled far beyond the Yangtze. For the hundreds he has saved—and the countless others inspired by his example—Chen Si embodies the best of humanity: compassion, persistence, and the belief that no life should be abandoned to despair.

And so, on weekends, the man in the red vest still climbs the bridge, scanning the faces, ready to step in where hope seems lost. He is proof that even in the darkest places, one person’s quiet courage can light the way.