“Guanyin Woman,” the Beautiful Mom Ji Xiaoqiu
It is reported that the “Guanyin Woman” is a Beijing woman in her 40s and a devout Buddhist devotee. Her friends affectionately call her Sister Ji. Three years ago, she visited Dongguan Guanyin Mountain with friends for tourism and Buddhist worship. At that time, she made a wish before the sacred statue of Guanyin, hoping that her son, who was about to take the college entrance examination, could get into a good university and succeed academically. She vowed that if her wish came true, she would definitely return to Guanyin Mountain to fulfill her vow. In the blink of an eye, three years passed. Not only did her son get into his dream university as hoped, but his grades also improved steadily, and he is now preparing to study abroad. A single prayer for blessings turned out to have such a profound response, filling her with gratitude. However, her journey to fulfill her vow at Guanyin Mountain had never come to fruition.
In early June this year, by chance, she met a high monk at Guanyin Temple on Mount Putuo in Zhejiang. After learning about her story, the venerable monk enlightened her: “Fate brings people together, and when the time comes, it will reunite them.” He explicitly told her that she must go fulfill her vow and bring closure to her wish for her son. So, after taking a ferry back to Ningbo, she bought a bicycle locally and set off alone toward Dongguan Guanyin Mountain, beginning her long and arduous journey of fulfilling vows and praying for blessings. On June 20, the Guanyin Woman set off from Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province, passing through Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Taizhou, and Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, Fuzhou, Putian, Quanzhou, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou in Fujian Province, and Shantou and Huizhou in Guangdong Province. She finally arrived safely at Dongguan Guanyin Mountain on the morning of August 12.
Trekking Through Mountains and Rivers to Fulfill a Vow at Guanyin Mountain
She encountered typhoons, heavy rain, scorching heat, and illness along the way. Long-distance cycling is a hardship that’s hard to imagine unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Cycling under the blazing sun, with temperatures consistently above 38 degrees Celsius for several days, on rural roads or national highways with no shade, she pedaled alone under the scorching sun. Due to wearing glasses and the inconvenience of wiping them, sweat often flowed into her eyes, causing a burning pain that tormented her. Moreover, she repeatedly faced uphill stretches stretching over 10 kilometers, which were a great test of her physical strength and endurance. Often, after climbing, she was so exhausted she could barely stand, her hands unable to grip and legs too stiff to straighten. Despite being physically and mentally drained, she persevered. Each time she returned to the hotel, she was drenched in sweat, collapsed into bed, and sometimes didn’t even want dinner...
The hardest and most perilous part was when typhoons struck. This summer, typhoons came one after another. Just as Typhoons Damrey and Saola had passed, Typhoon Haikui fiercely approached. In less than 10 days, the eastern coast was hit by three typhoons. To avoid delaying her journey, the Guanyin Woman braved the wind in her raincoat, cycling 60 kilometers every day. Online, there was once a post on her own Weibo describing her 2,000-kilometer vow-fulfilling journey: “On my journey southward to fulfill my vow, I encountered many difficulties and setbacks—the scorching heat of summer, cycling 60 kilometers daily while carrying 100 kilograms, often sweating profusely as soon as I stepped out. I encountered three typhoons along the way, pushing my bike for two kilometers on roads submerged under one meter of water, feeling terrified. To avoid the daytime heat, I sometimes set off around 4 pm, and at night, to make up for lost time, I often rode until 10 pm.”
Besides harsh weather, unexpected dangers lurked around the Guanyin Woman. One day, as she cycled along the road as usual, a truck unknowingly approached her. Under the blazing midday sun, the Guanyin Woman was already drenched in sweat and dizzy, completely unaware of the sudden danger. It wasn’t until the driver honked sharply that she instinctively turned the handlebars. When she looked back after swerving out of the wheels’ path, she was terrified—she had narrowly avoided being hit by a several-ton truck, and her yellow vest was left with black engine oil stains from the scrape. Had the truck been going any slower, she might have been sucked under the wheels...
To the Guanyin Woman, arriving safely at Dongguan Guanyin Mountain was due to the protection of the Goddess Guanyin.
Spreading Kindness and Receiving Touching Moments
Following the guidance of the Bodhisattva and with a heart full of Buddhist compassion, she spread goodwill along the way. During the Dragon Boat Festival, by West Lake in Hangzhou, she handed out zongzi to local residents. In Shantou, Guangdong, she actively supported impoverished college students, selflessly delivering donations despite her fatigue. In Huizhou, Guangdong, she handed out water to traffic police, sanitation workers, and laborers under the scorching sun. She also did crafts with children at the Huizhou Comprehensive Welfare Institute. With a heart full of kindness, the Guanyin Woman cycled, performed public service, and spread love along the way.
The Guanyin Woman’s story was widely spread through online and media coverage. However, this was not her original intention. Facing the media, she didn’t want to talk much about her acts of kindness: she believed that during these cycling days, she had experienced many hardships and met many friends who offered her selfless help and care. Only when she reached the feet of Guanyin did she feel she had done too little and received too much help.
Several times, her bicycle tires got punctured and needed repairs. Shop owners, upon learning of her story, all offered to fix her bike for free. Along the way, when the heat was unbearable, kind-hearted people often gave her watermelons and water. The Guanyin Woman shared touching moments from her journey: once, while cycling at night, a middle-aged man approached her. Though she ignored him, he followed her with a flashlight for over an hour. In the end, he said, “It’s unsafe to cycle at night. No one’s around on this road. I’ll escort you to this point. Just head toward that main road, and you’ll be fine.” Then he turned back. She felt both guilty and deeply moved.
The Guanyin Woman is just that simple—always carrying a kind and grateful heart, cultivating herself and progressing along the way. Along the journey, she connected with many monks, forming both Buddhist and human bonds. Originally an ordinary housewife, she had the fortune to visit over 300 temples, receiving blessings and protection from the Bodhisattva, as well as calligraphy gifts of the character “Fu” (blessing) from over a thousand accomplished monks—this is truly a blessing.
Even though they were strangers, many people still encouraged her along the way. The Guanyin Woman reflected that when she cycled to Shantou, she suddenly saw banners wishing “Guanyin Woman” well hanging on both sides of the road. Unexpectedly interviewed by the media, she learned that whether ahead or behind her, many people were moving toward the same goal, traveling alongside her. Though the journey was lonely, it was not solitary, because this fulfilling and warm trip meant she wasn’t walking alone.
Thousand Riders Accompany and Escort Her—A Deeply Moving Scene
Two months of travel, a 2,000-kilometer journey, tested her physical strength and was even more a spiritual trial and cleansing. The hardships she endured were like a “spiritual journey,” resolving inner confusion and revealing the brilliance of humanity.
The Guanyin Woman’s compassionate heart, her 2,000 miles of dust and earth, and her 50 days of clouds and moonlight moved countless ordinary people along the way. Though strangers, they were willing to spontaneously escort her for a stretch. Cycling enthusiasts in Huizhou and Dongguan spontaneously organized a “cycling to welcome the Guanyin Woman” event as a prayer accompaniment.
On the morning of August 12, at a hotel in Huizhou, 50 kilometers from Guanyin Mountain, the Guanyin Woman freshened up and changed out of her travel-worn clothes, putting on her freshly washed yellow vest from the night before. Though the morning rain drizzled, it didn’t dampen her joyful and excited mood. She was about to reach Guanyin Mountain—the cycling journey was finally nearing its end. As she mounted her bike and prepared to set off, she was surprised to find that a group of riders had arrived in the rain to accompany and escort her.
When the Guanyin Woman and the riders gathered, the riders shouted her name, cheers and applause erupting nonstop. Suddenly, the sky cleared, and a divine light shone down. For the final 50 kilometers, the Guanyin Woman joyfully cycled at the front, with riders following like a long dragon. Nearly a thousand riders marched in formation along the roadside, colorful flags waving, and cheers rising and falling continuously.
Under the scorching sun, the Guanyin Woman’s yellow vest was soaked through, and the riders were drenched in sweat. Though towels hung around their necks, no one paused to wipe the perspiration. Their legs seemed to have endless energy as they climbed steep slopes and crossed bridges, racing toward Guanyin Mountain... Closer, closer, even closer. Though still miles away, Guanyin Mountain seemed just within reach.
The moment she reached the foot of Guanyin Mountain and looked up at the majestic gate tower, tears streamed uncontrollably down the Guanyin Woman’s face. She had imagined countless times laying down her exhaustion and prostrating herself at Guanyin’s feet to express her reverence and devotion. But when that moment truly arrived, she felt all the pain, grievances, and hardships melt away after crossing mountains and rivers.
The crowd lining the road at the base of Guanyin Mountain cheered, applauded, beat drums, and performed the Hakka Qilin dance to joyfully welcome the Guanyin Woman. That day, the arrival of the Guanyin Woman filled Guanyin Mountain with boundless joy and delight.
Heart Fulfilled, Achieving Extraordinary Merit
As a Buddhist tourism holy site in Lingnan, Guanyin Mountain boasts a rich Buddhist culture and a large following nationwide. The “Guanyin Woman’s Vow Fulfillment” once again confirms the influence of Guanyin Mountain’s Buddhist culture.
Deeply impressed by the “Guanyin Woman’s” sincere heart, Guanyin Mountain expressed great admiration for the devoted mother’s extraordinary feat of cycling 1,000 miles alone to fulfill her vow. To honor her, the park held a grand welcoming ceremony at its International Convention and Exhibition Center. The Guanyin Woman delivered a speech, expressing mostly gratitude. However, her short three-minute talk was interrupted multiple times by applause and cheers from the audience.
The tourists and riders present could hardly contain their excitement, repeatedly calling out the Guanyin Woman’s name. The scene was deeply moving. At the ceremony, the person in charge of Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park expressed the mountain’s warm welcome to the Guanyin Woman and presented her with a golden Guanyin statue.
Later, at Guanyin Square, the monks of Guanyin Temple held a special vow-fulfilling prayer ceremony for the Guanyin Woman to help her complete her vow and achieve perfect merit. Monks and devotees gathered inside the temple, standing neatly on both sides, chanting Buddhist sutras, the sound of wooden fish echoing, and sandalwood incense lingering in the air. The Guanyin Woman knelt devoutly before the Guanyin statue. At that moment, a light drizzle began at Guanyin Square, washing away the impurities of the world, cleansing the dust of the journey, and purifying hearts. The rain gathered in the eye sockets carved from 999 pieces of basalt of the Guanyin statue, overflowing as if Guanyin herself were shedding tears—a miraculous sight.
After the ceremony, the Guanyin Woman solemnly presented the “Thousand-Character Blessing” silk scroll, inscribed by the high monk she had met on her journey, to Guanyin Temple. The thousands of uniquely shaped characters of “Fu” carried the blessings of countless monks and recorded the Guanyin Woman’s dedicated journey. “I’m too excited right now. Let me calm down and think—I can tell you the names of every monk who wrote each ‘Fu’ character,” the Guanyin Woman said, not very articulate. Her simplicity and devotion touched everyone present. The abbot of Guanyin Temple solemnly lifted the red wooden box holding the silk scroll and offered incense in prayer.
The sky was clear, the green mountains stood tall, and the Goddess of Mercy stood atop Guanyin Mountain, gazing into the distance at the continuous ranges of hills. Her gaze was firm yet gentle, and the afterglow of the setting sun quietly bathed her face, casting an extraordinary glow. Her shadow stretched long, merging with the sacred image of Guanyin, while behind her floated the ethereal incense smoke, accompanied by devout worshippers kneeling in reverence...
Scenes of moving moments from her 55-day journey flashed before her eyes once again: pairs of warm hands, kind faces, and moments when she had brushed past death. Over the course of her two-month spiritual pilgrimage, she seemed to have gained insight into life. Though her body remained weary and her steps heavy, her heart had become serene and enlightened. "All the storms along the way are now behind me. I’ve made it to Guanyin Mountain. I want to use my experience to tell my son that no matter what difficulties he faces in life, he must persevere. I will pass on this kindness, for Guanyin Mountain is both an end and a beginning."
Such devotion, such compassion—this is a real woman, a traveler who remembers every bit of kindness, a pilgrim who recalls the names of a thousand eminent monks, a mother who rode a thousand miles for her son. The power of faith created this legend!