A unique taxi in China

Passengers entering 27-year-old Zhang's taxi are often surprised by the colorful notes covering the interior and the constant presence of a child in the backseat.

Zhang Congcong, a former kindergarten teacher, never imagined she would become a taxi driver. Her life took an unexpected turn in 2018 when both her children and her husband, Zhao, were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare disease that causes muscle weakness and loss of mobility.

Unable to leave her son at home alone while her husband worked and cared for their older daughter, Zhang decided to bring her son, Momo, to work with her. Her taxi became a mobile "intensive care unit." Every evening, after his treatments, Momo would settle into the backseat with a blanket and toys.

Passengers were initially surprised, but after Zhang explained her situation, they were understanding. One passenger left the first note on the back of the driver's seat: "Your son has a great mother, and you are special." Inspired, Zhang began providing sticky notes and pens, inviting passengers to leave messages for Momo. Within months, over 200 notes filled the backseat, windows, and dashboard, offering encouragement like "Stay strong, little warrior!" and "Even if the road is difficult, we will reach our destination if we don't give up."

Notes of encouragement from passengers for Zhang and her son. Photo: Handout

Notes of encouragement from passengers for Zhang and her son. Photo: Handout

The taxi's interior, covered in notes and children's drawings, became a testament to community kindness and a mother's love. Chinese social media users dubbed it "China's most cluttered but most heartwarming taxi." Some passengers even tucked cash among the notes, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand yuan. Once, Zhang found 10,000 yuan left anonymously.