Abandoned Chinese baby adopted by Swedish couple makes emotional return decades later
A woman from eastern China, abandoned at birth, has returned with her Swedish adoptive parents to reunite with her birth family after 23 years. Known as Lisa in media reports, she was born in Huaiyuan county, Anhui province. Mainland media reported that a midwife took her away shortly after her birth in 2003, with her impoverished parents’ consent, after assuring them they could not afford to…
In 2003, a baby girl, later known as Lisa in media reports, was abandoned at birth in Huaiyuan county, Anhui province, eastern China. Her impoverished parents consented to the midwife taking her away, assuring they could not raise her. Four days after birth, the midwife dropped the infant outside a stadium in another city, where she was found suffering from an inguinal hernia.
The girl was placed in a children’s welfare home, where she was given the name Gao Jianquan, a homophone for a phrase meaning "in good health." The midwife's actions remain uncertain, as it's unclear whether she faced consequences for her decision.
Gao was adopted by a Swedish couple at the age of one and grew up in Sweden, forming a close bond with her adoptive parents who openly shared her origins. In 2025, Gao registered with Baby Come Home, a Chinese non-profit organization facilitating family reunions. DNA testing soon identified her biological relatives, leading to her return to Huaiyuan, China, on July 25, 2025, with her parents.
Gao's biological parents welcomed her with a bilingual banner and expressed their love for her. She tearfully expressed her affection in Chinese, saying, "Mum, I love you. I'm so happy to see you." Gao, who has three biological siblings, plans to return to Sweden to complete her master's degree. The emotional reunion sparked mixed reactions on mainland social media, with some questioning her decision to seek out her birth family.
Gao responded that she had found peace with her past, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's roots.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
