"Free Subway and Bus Rides for Life with Blood Donation"…Is the Billboard in China Real?

Advertisement Claims Free Public Transportation for Blood Donors
"Blood Donation Honor Certificate" Available for Those Who Donate Over 2000ml

An advertisement stating "If you donate blood, you can use the subway and bus for free" was posted in the Hefei subway in Anhui Province, China, sparking controversy.

Local Chinese media such as Zhonghua Net reported on the 8th, "In Hefei, if you donate more than 2000㎖ of blood, you can use the subway and bus for free."

Advertisement board in Hefei Subway. Baidu

The advertisement posted online reads "Donate blood for a better city" along with "Free subway," "Free bus," "Free parking for a certain period," "Free admission to parks and tourist attractions," and "Free outpatient medical fees." Especially next to the QR code, it says, "If you donate blood once in Hefei, you can use it for free for life."

A counselor from the Hefei Central Blood Center explained to Zhonghua Net, "If you donate blood more than 10 times and the total blood volume exceeds 2000㎖ in Anhui Province, you can apply for a 'Blood Donation Honor Certificate,'" adding, "With this certificate, you can use public transportation in Hefei for free."

Regarding the "free for life" aspect, they said, "According to the current policy, no end date is specified," and "You can use it for free until the policy changes."

Zhonghua Net reported that Chinese netizens online debated with comments such as "I wonder if it's free or if it needs to be renewed annually. Is there a time limit?" and "There are rumors that it is a lifelong policy, but won't it only be for a short period?"