After heroic rescue, Saudi man explores China's tech, kindness

In Shenzhen, a drone descended from the sky, delivering a cup of coffee directly into the hands of Ahmed Nasser AlAnzi. For the 34-year-old administrative employee from Saudi Arabia, this seamless moment captured a defining feature of modern China — where technology is so deeply woven into the social fabric that daily life becomes effortless.

A video still shows Ahmed Nasser AlAnzi (C) filming drone deliveries with his phone during a visit to Shenzhen. Courtesy of WeChat Channels account "新华快看“

His five-day journey through Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Beijing earlier this month — his first to China — began weeks earlier under dramatically different circumstances. It started with a flash flood in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region last month, where AlAnzi and two friends rescued two Chinese engineers from an overturned vehicle that had been swept away by raging waters. “There was no time to think. We just acted,” AlAnzi recalled. “In such a moment, you see people, not nationalities.”

The video of the rescue spread widely on social media in both Saudi Arabia and China, drawing attention from Chinese officials, who later invited the three Saudis to visit.

Ahmed Nasser AlAnzi boards a high-speed train from Shenzhen en route to Hong Kong. Courtesy of WeChat Channels account "新华快看”

Shenzhen, where AlAnzi first witnessed China’s tech-driven convenience, left a strong impression. 

“This is the kind of innovation we're also working toward,” he remarked. Later, aboard a high-speed train to Hong Kong, he experienced what many call “Chinese speed” — smooth, quiet, and relentless.

Beyond infrastructure, he observed how technology integrates into urban life: from mobile payments and shared bicycles to systems that serve millions efficiently. 

“There’s a confidence here,” AlAnzi noted while walking through Beijing’s Sanlitun, where historic courtyards meet contemporary architecture. “It comes from knowing your past while building decisively toward the future.”

Throughout his stay, he engaged in cultural exchanges — learning to play diabolo in a Beijing park and picking up simple Chinese phrases like “Nihao” (hello) and “Xiexie” (thank you). “It’s the kindness of the Chinese people that made this journey truly special,” he said.

Chang Hua (R), Ambassador of China to Saudi Arabia, presents a certificate of appreciation to Ahmed Nasser AlAnzi in recognition of his bravery. Courtesy of Ambassy of China in Saudi Arabia

What began as a spontaneous rescue evolved into a personal insight into a partnership built not only on projects and policies, but on human connection. “You help someone, and later find yourself welcomed into their world,” AlAnzi reflected. “That is how trust grows.”(Xinhua)