(Source: china.org.cn)

BEIJING, Dec. 19 -- Han Bing, a taxi driver in Beijing, has rescued a girl with his rare blood type nine times since November 2013.

Born in 1977, Han Bing has the "panda blood type," as Rh-negative blood is referred to in China because, as the phrase suggests, this kind of blood is "as rare as pandas."

Now a taxi driver with Wanquanyuan Taxi Company, Han found out his blood type when he was a soldier. He donated his blood six times during his four years with the army, amounting to a total of 2,400 mL.

He joined the Beijing Red Cross Blood Center as a volunteer in 2001 after he retired from the army, and he has now donated 5,000 ml blood over the course of around 50 visits to the center.

In 2013, Han developed an indissoluble bond with a little girl named Xue Lian from east China's Jiangsu Province. Xue, who also has "panda blood", suffers from acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. In November last year, Xue's blood platelet levels decreased sharply after chemotherapy treatment, which put Xue's life in great danger. Xue's family was very worried because the hospital she stayed in had no stock of Rh-negative blood. With the help of a local charity organization, Xue's family got in contact with Han. Upon learning of Xue's situation, Han promised over the phone that he would help this child whom he had never met.

On Nov. 21, 2013, Han donated two units of platelets to Xue, saving her life. Han also promised that he would continue to donate blood to her for as long as his physical condition permitted. On Dec. 9, Xue needed another blood transfusion after undergoing more chemotherapy, Han left work and went to the blood center, where he donated two units of platelets, one for Xue and one for another patient.

Since November last year, Han has donated platelets nine times for a total of 2,340 mL without receiving compensation. On Jun. 27 this year, Han had just gotten home at 2 am after driving his taxi all night when he received a call from Xue's father. Hearing that Xue was in danger again, Han, despite his fatigue, drove directly to the blood center. He even fell asleep while he was donating blood. Xue's father Xue Weiwei said that Han had given his daughter a second chance at life.

This January, Han learned that Xue's family would celebrate the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) in Beijing. Han invited the Xue family to visit a Beijing Ditan Temple Fair with him and his son for a taste of the Spring Festival atmosphere. Perhaps because Han's blood was running in Xue Lian's body, Xue Lian liked Han so much that his son became jealous.

Not long ago, Xue Lian received a bone marrow transplant. She will be out of hospital soon, which means that she won't need Han's help anymore. However, Han said that nine donations in one year have deepened his feelings towards Xue's family, and he is concerned about Xue Lian's health and her future.