China Focus: Guide dogs help visually impaired individuals secure easier living

Guide dog Mango guides Wang Zhihua to work in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2025. (Wang Zhihua/Handout via Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Yue Yuanyuan, Tian Ying, Zhang Boqun

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Whether negotiating the bustling streets, tackling the crowded subways or strolling through the tranquil parks of Beijing, Wang Zhihua is always accompanied by a Labrador in a bright red vest.

"This is Ms. Mango, my guide dog and also a beloved member of my family," said the 43-year-old visually impaired man.

International Guide Dog Day falls on the last Wednesday of April each year, honoring the vital role guide dogs play in supporting the independence and mobility of people with visual impairments. As this special day approached, Wang shared the story of his journey with Mango.

"When I first heard that a guide dog is a blind person's second pair of eyes, I thought no blind person could resist the allure of this statement," Wang Zhihua said. This very idea inspired his decision to adopt a guide dog.

After a period of waiting, Wang Zhihua was matched with Mango at the China Guide Dog Training Center in 2016, marking the beginning of a nine-year journey of mutual companionship.

After taking Mango home, Wang Zhihua began commuting to work independently with her by his side. His boss even started entrusting him with business trips. Wang and Mango became inseparable, and even his wife joked: "You spend more time with her than with me."

"At first, when she needed to signal me to stop, Mango would sit according to the standard guide dog training protocol. But over time, as we built trust with each other, she began gently pressing her head against my leg to stop me," Wang Zhihua recalled.

What Wang Zhihua didn't expect were the two occasions when Mango used this very gesture to push him out of harm's way, and in doing so, she was twice injured by reckless drivers.

Those two dangerous moments helped forge a deep, unbreakable bond between them. According to Wang Zhihua, when danger arises, Mango will protect him unconditionally -- and do so without any hesitation.

Wang Zhihua's wife is also visually impaired, but her guide dog sadly passed away two years ago, leaving the couple deeply heartbroken. "For the entire month, the house was completely silent," he recalled.

Now, as Mango grows older and approaches retirement, Wang and his wife cherish every moment with her even more. They care for this beloved family member with the same unconditional love and tenderness she has always shown them.

In addition, Mango's significance to Wang Zhihua goes far beyond daily companionship -- her arrival quietly changed the course of his life.

While initially commuting with Mango, Wang Zhihua gained a more direct and personal understanding of the difficulties visually impaired people face when traveling with guide dogs.

Although policies permit guide dogs to ride in vehicles, many drivers remain unaware of or fail to understand the rules, resulting in him being repeatedly refused rides.

Faced with this challenge, Wang Zhihua reflected on a truth that many in the disabled community know well -- prejudice often stems not from cruelty, but from ignorance and misunderstanding.

Motivated by this belief, he joined the ride-hailing platform Didi Chuxing in 2019, where he helped design and launch an accessible ride service specifically for guide dog users.

This accessible ride service for guide dog users prioritizes registered passengers by matching them with drivers who have agreed to provide such accessible services.

According to data from Didi, since the service was first launched in September 2020, it had expanded to 139 cities as of March 2025. Notably, more than 3.1 million Didi drivers have completed accessibility service certification.

STANDARDIZED TRAINING LAYS FOUNDATION

In China, many guide dogs like Mango help visually impaired individuals navigate the world -- and most of them come from the same hometown as Mango.

Mango's birthplace, the China Guide Dog Training Center in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, was founded in 2006. It was the first non-profit organization on the Chinese mainland dedicated to breeding and training guide dogs.

For a Labrador retriever or a Golden retriever, the common breeds viewed as guide dog candidates, qualification for a job in the human world is not easy. "A qualified guide dog can help its owner circumvent obstacles, memorize at least 30 commands and five destinations, execute tasks on cue, and navigate for the visually impaired," said Wang Xin, assistant to the director of the center.

Moreover, a candidate puppy must come from a lineage clear of records of aggression for three generations -- and have a calm temperament and high level of obedience, she added.

"We receive approximately 300 applications each year, and we review the personalities, mobility needs and living conditions of these applicants to ensure optimal pairing," Wang Xin said, while adding that an applicant usually has to wait two years before taking their furry friend home.

Since its inception, the center in Dalian has supplied over 400 guide dogs free of charge to visually impaired individuals. It has also managed to increase its training success rate from 20 to 50 percent and now graduates about 30 to 40 certified guide dogs annually.

As the use of guide dogs becomes more widespread in China, relevant regulations and standards have also been implemented.

In 2018, China established a national standard for guide dogs, which outlines technical requirements spanning selective breeding, rearing, training and evaluation, as well as post-placement follow-up featuring the likes of retraining and retirement protocols.

GROWING PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE PAVES WAY

Boosted by strong support via government policies, public acceptance of guide dogs has grown significantly in China.

In 2023, the country passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment, which legally guarantees the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by service dogs -- including guide dogs, hearing support dogs and dogs providing other forms of assistance, ensuring that they can access public spaces and services with greater ease.

"Over the years, the overall environment has steadily improved," Wang Zhihua said with a smile.

Today, guide dogs are not only allowed in taxis but can also accompany their owners on the subway, high-speed trains and even airplanes. As a result, more and more visually impaired individuals are willing to step out of their homes and bravely embrace life.

"Guide dogs are seen as the best companions and helpers in terms of the independent and safe mobility of blind individuals. They also reflect a country's level of social progress and accessibility," said Wang Xin.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, China had a total of 85.91 million people with disabilities as of 2023 -- including more than 17 million with visual impairments.

"Looking ahead, we hope that more people will get involved in the guide dog initiative, enabling blind individuals needing guide dogs to experience the convenience and independence these dogs provide, as soon as possible," she added. ■

Guide dog Mango stays by Wang Zhihua's side as he works at the office in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2025. (Wang Zhihua/Handout via Xinhua)

Guide dog Mango guides Wang Zhihua to work in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2025. (Wang Zhihua/Handout via Xinhua)

This file photo taken in 2024 shows a trainer of the China Guide Dog Training Center teaching a guide dog how to assist its owner going down the stairs in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (China Guide Dog Training Center/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 5, 2025 shows guide dog puppies at the China Guide Dog Training Center in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (China Guide Dog Training Center/Handout via Xinhua)