A traveler suffering severe food poisoning in Xi'An, China, received extraordinary care from hotel staff, who cleaned her room, checked on her, and took her elderly father sightseeing on their own time and money.
Sudden Illness Strikes During Trip
The traveler, whose account is part of the Kindness of Strangers series, was visiting Xi'An with her father, then aged 88 or 89. After a meal at a dumpling restaurant, she experienced violent food poisoning, vomiting repeatedly and feeling too ill to leave the hotel. She spent the night projectile vomiting in her room, an experience she described as horrible and embarrassing.
Despite needing hospital care, she felt unable to leave her elderly father alone. The next morning, she dragged herself to reception to apologize for the mess and request cleaning. An older cleaner who spoke no English came to her room, stripped the bed, changed the sheets, cleaned the bathroom, and even helped wipe her down. Between tasks, she patted the traveler's shoulder in wordless reassurance. When the traveler tried to tip her, the cleaner refused and returned every few hours to check on her.
Staff Offer to Take Father Sightseeing
The cleaner informed reception of the situation, and a younger front desk worker knocked on the door to ask if she could help—specifically, by taking the traveler's father out while she rested. The traveler mentioned they had planned to visit the Terracotta Army, and the receptionist, whose shift was ending, volunteered to take him. Before leaving, she delicately straightened the father's collar, a gesture that made the traveler feel confident they would be fine.
The traveler had given her father plenty of money for the day, but when he returned, he reported that the receptionist had not let him pay for anything. She had taken him sightseeing on her day off, spending her own meager wage. The traveler tried multiple times to reimburse her, but she utterly refused to accept any money, caring for the father as if he were her own grandfather.
Lasting Impact of Kindness
The traveler reflected, 'The respect shown to my father when I was sick and helpless was beyond amazing, and is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.' She and her father have traveled the world but agreed they have never experienced kindness like they did in China.
