Chinese Taxi Driver Returns 140,000‑Yuan Mistaken Payment, Becomes Viral Hero.
In the early hours of August 21, a taxi ride in the quiet outskirts of Fushun, Sichuan, turned into a viral cautionary tale that has captivated Chinese netizens and sparked a wider conversation about honesty, digital payments and alcohol‑related mishaps. Zhou Wei, a 45‑year‑old driver who has spent more than a decade navigating the city’s streets, picked up a heavily intoxicated young man—apparently in his twenties—near a local bar. The passenger, assisted into the car by a friend, was headed toward the Songdu Bridge, a spot that later became a focal point of both concern and relief.
23 August 2025
The fare, as usual, should have been a modest 10 yuan. Instead, the inebriated rider scanned the driver’s QR code with his phone and, due to a careless swipe, transferred 146,528 yuan—roughly 140,000 yuan (about US$19,000). Zhou instantly recognized the absurd discrepancy when his phone buzzed with the notification. “I was shocked,” he later recalled, “and I almost threw my phone away.” The drunken passenger, apparently unfazed, waved Zhou off and hurried away, muttering that no refund was necessary.
Zhou, however, was not prepared to let the mistake slide. Aware that the sum was far beyond a simple fare and uneasy about the man’s drunken state near a bridge, he drove straight to the nearest police outpost, the Dengjingguan Police Station, and lodged a report. Within two days, officers responded, escorting Zhou back to the drop‑off point where they found the passenger sitting by the roadside, now sober enough to read the transaction details on his phone. The realization that he had mistakenly sent a small fortune to a stranger was clearly evident on his face.
In a scene that would later be replayed on Weibo and other platforms, Zhou handed the 140,000 yuan back to the passenger under the watchful eyes of the police. The driver then offered to take the man home, and the passenger, embarrassed but grateful, paid the correct 25 yuan fare for the return journey. By approximately 4 a.m. on August 23, the incident had concluded without any legal entanglements, and both parties departed with a story that would spread far beyond the city’s limits.
Social media erupted with admiration for Zhou’s integrity. Users labeled him a “good person,” a “hero,” and praised his “professional ethics,” contrasting his conduct with the stereotype of a driver who might keep such a windfall. Many commenters highlighted the driver’s concern for the passenger’s safety, noting that Zhou could have simply kept the money and walked away, yet chose to involve authorities and ensure the man’s wellbeing.
The episode also ignited a torrent of humor. Netizens joked about the “divine operation” of alcohol that turned a 10‑yuan payment into a six‑figure transfer, and speculated that the mishap might have resulted from the passenger inadvertently entering his payment password instead of the amount. One meme proclaimed that “the whole nation now knows his password,” while another imagined the driver’s reaction—“almost threw the phone”—as a dramatic outburst.
Beyond the levity, the incident spurred cautionary commentary. Users warned against excessive drinking, reminding their followers that intoxication can lead to costly mistakes. Others used the story as a reminder to double‑check digital payments, especially when scanning QR codes in taxis where the transaction amount is typically low. The episode also prompted discussion about the design of mobile payment platforms: should there be stronger safeguards or confirmation prompts for unusually large sums in low‑value contexts?
Industry observers see broader implications for the taxi sector. The case underscores the importance of driver training on handling payment errors, and it may encourage ride‑hailing and taxi companies to refine their QR‑code systems, perhaps incorporating alerts that trigger when a transfer vastly exceeds the expected fare. Moreover, Zhou’s publicized honesty could help improve the reputation of taxi drivers, a profession often plagued by mistrust.
Regulators, too, are taking note. While Chinese consumer‑protection laws already address erroneous transactions, the sheer magnitude of this mistake could motivate a review of digital payment regulations, pushing for additional verification steps for outlier amounts. The swift cooperation between Zhou and the Dengjingguan Police Station also reinforces public confidence in law enforcement’s capacity to resolve civil disputes efficiently.
In the end, the story of a 10‑yuan fare turned 140,000‑yuan blunder serves as a modern parable: a reminder that even in an era of effortless digital transactions, human error—especially under the influence of alcohol—remains a potent force. It also illustrates how a single act of honesty can resonate across a nation, turning an unlikely mishap into a testament to integrity and a catalyst for dialogue about payment security, responsible drinking, and the social contract between driver and passenger.
