China's 'Calabash Grandpa' Chooses Peace Over Viral Fame

When Chen Jin'ao's seven calabash gourds went viral in China, millions saw a heartwarming connection to a beloved cartoon. What they didn't know was that these gourds had become like children to a couple still grieving their daughter's death 25 years ago.

The 75-year-old from Shaoxing became "Calabash Grandpa" after a local video on Douyin showed his gourds hanging outside his home, just like the opening scene of the 1986 animated series "Calabash Brothers." The video exploded online, and tourists followed in droves.

At first, Chen welcomed visitors with open arms. He told them the gourds would bring good luck, embracing his unexpected role as a symbol of fortune. In China, calabashes represent prosperity and blessing because "hulu" sounds like "fulu," the word for good fortune.

But the flood of attention quickly became overwhelming. Tourists crowded the riverside location day after day, some even trying to enter the couple's home. Last Saturday, Chen's wife Shen Hualing suffered a dizzy spell from exhaustion, and Chen made his decision.

He cut down all seven gourds.

Sunny's Take

Before the gourds came down, this story revealed something beautiful about human connection. Chen and Shen told reporters that despite losing their only daughter decades ago and having no grandchildren, the attention from strangers "opened our hearts." The couple had lived closed off for years, and the warmth from online supporters genuinely lifted their spirits.

Local officials tried to help by posting signs asking visitors to stay quiet while grandpa rested. The tourism bureau reflected publicly on finding better balance between viral attractions and respecting private lives. The story sparked 160 million views and 27,000 discussions, with most people supporting Chen's choice and wishing tourists had been more considerate.

Now the seven calabashes rest on the second floor of Chen's home. "The calabashes are my children," he told reporters, promising to care for them always. He won't grow them again, but the experience gave him something unexpected: proof that even in grief, strangers can bring light back into closed hearts.

Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for people who've touched us is give them their peace back.