Woman in China wins praise after using her scarf to clean spilled tea on subway

A woman on a Suzhou subway has won widespread praise after she used her own scarf to wipe up spilled bubble tea when she ran out of tissues, turning a small mishap into a quiet lesson in public courtesy.

In the short video circulating on Chinese social media, the passenger is seen boarding the train with a cup of bubble tea. As she steps inside, the drink slips and spills across the floor. First she bends down and tries to dab it up with tissues. When that clearly is not enough, she calmly takes off her scarf, crouches down and uses it to soak up the remaining liquid before leaving the carriage. Other commuters watch as she makes sure the floor is as clean as she can manage.

The clip quickly went viral. Many online commenters praised her for not walking away from the mess and for thinking about the safety and comfort of people who would board after her. Remarks calling her “thoughtful,” “well brought up” and “a real example of civic sense” were shared widely.

Suzhou Metro staff later tracked her down and offered her a new scarf along with a small gift to thank her. That detail added to the warmth around the story, with users saying they were glad to see public transport staff acknowledge such behaviour instead of only posting warnings and fines.

Part of the appeal of the video is how ordinary it is. It shows a simple moment in which someone takes responsibility for a mistake instead of pretending it did not happen. In crowded metro systems, spilled drinks can easily cause people to slip or leave sticky patches that annoy everyone. Her decision to act, even at the cost of her own scarf, stood out to viewers who are used to seeing litter and spills ignored in busy public spaces.

The metro operator has not issued a formal statement, but its gesture of appreciation has been read as a quiet endorsement of basic good manners. Commentators have suggested that highlighting such examples, rather than only focusing on rule breaking, can encourage more passengers to look after shared spaces.

At a time when many viral clips focus on fights, arguments or bad behaviour on public transport, this small act of care offered a different kind of story. For commuters in China and elsewhere, it was a reminder that everyday politeness still matters, and that one person’s small effort can make a crowded journey a little easier for everyone.