Recently, in Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, two families have come forward to the media, reflecting on a mix-up that occurred 37 years ago when two baby girls born in the Qingyuan hospital were mistakenly swapped, leading to a lifelong displacement that spanned almost half a century.
The two parties involved, Li Hui and Huang Xiaolin, were both born on October 3, 1989, with only a 55-minute difference between their births.
According to the recollections of the two mothers, the hospital conditions were rudimentary at the time, with a shortage of medical staff. Newborns were dressed in identical clothes and only identified by paper tags, with handover procedures conducted by nurses at discharge. The exact details of the swap could no longer be clarified.
Huang Xiaolin was raised by Ms. Yu and Mr. Huang in a relatively affluent family. Mr. Huang was a civil servant, while Ms. Yu worked for a government agency. However, due to differences in appearance and blood type, Huang Xiaolin faced suspicion from her father, leading to a sense of estrangement within the family. A subsequent paternity test revealed that Mr. Huang was not her biological father, resulting in a divorce between him and Ms. Yu following a court ruling.
After her parents’ divorce, Huang Xiaolin suffered from depression. Her marriage was also unhappy, with her husband frequently staying out late, drinking excessively, accumulating significant debts, ultimately ending in divorce after ten years of endurance.
On the other hand, Li Hui was raised by the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Zhu, in a farming family. When Li Hui was in the second grade of primary school, her father fell victim to an investment scam, causing the family’s savings to vanish. As a result, Li Hui dropped out of school early to work and supported her family through jobs such as sales and tour guiding, becoming the breadwinner for her family and even purchasing a house for her parents. Despite being diagnosed with a blood disorder and undergoing thyroid surgery, she continues to require medication.
On April 27, 2025, Li Hui received a call informing her of suspicions regarding a baby mix-up at the hospital years ago and requesting her cooperation for a DNA test. Subsequent testing confirmed that Mrs. Zhu was Huang Xiaolin’s biological mother, while Ms. Yu and Mr. Huang were Li Hui’s biological parents. The two individuals lived within a short distance of four to five kilometers from each other.
Upon learning the truth, Huang’s father struggled with sleepless nights due to concerns over his daughter’s well-being and suffered a stroke, leading to hospitalization. After more than twenty days of treatment, he eventually recovered from the life-threatening condition.
Following these revelations, both parties attempted to retrieve medical records from the hospital but were informed that they were no longer available, with relevant medical staff having retired or passed away. Li Hui and Huang Xiaolin have filed a lawsuit against the Qingyuan People’s Hospital, seeking over 2.6 million RMB in compensation for mental anguish and distress. The case is scheduled to be heard in court on August 13, 2026.
Currently, Li Hui continues to live with her adoptive mother, stating that her adoptive mother does not have a pension and requires care. As for her birth mother, she feels there may be a barrier due to their lack of previous interaction. Ms. Yu mentioned that she once suspected her biological daughter was abducted and sold, causing her immense anguish and leading her to take psychiatric medication. She now wishes to disturb the other party’s life as little as possible.
The lifelong mix-up that spanned almost half a century has left both families with deep and difficult-to-heal wounds, highlighting the enduring impact of the past events.