Shao Sanhu, 33, posted a notice on the tarp covering his one-month-old stall, saying the business would close for a week due to a “family matter” on April 18, the South China Morning Post reported.
He wrote on social media that he planned to donate stem cells to “a baby that he has never met before.”
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People queue at a setup of stalls selling food to passersby in Beijing, China Aug. 11, 2025. Photo by Reuters |
He said he had to give away prepared ingredients and expected to lose about 20,000 yuan (US$3,000) in rent and staff wages.
His post later went viral, attracting 26,000 likes and nearly 5,000 comments. Many users said they would support his business after it reopened. On April 27, Shao donated stem cells to the child at a hospital in Hefei City.
He reopened the stall on May 1, the first day of China’s five-day Labor Day holiday, and more than 60 groups of customers queued outside, much to his surprise. Some customers had traveled from other provinces to visit the stall.
One customer, who spent seven hours flying and driving from southwestern China, said he was moved by Shao’s actions and wanted to meet him in person. “Those willing to donate their stem cells must be reliable businessmen,” another patron said.
The influx of new customers prompted Shao to move into a nearby shop to avoid disturbing neighbors. He also received support from the local restaurant and catering businesses, which sent cooks and waiters to help him serve customers, along with volunteers from the Red Cross and Blue Sky Rescue.
Many also asked about Shao’s condition after the donation. He said he only experienced mild symptoms similar to low blood sugar and had fully recovered.
Shao added that he did not want to become an online influencer and hoped people would pay more attention to leukemia patients. “We are still lacking stem cell donors. Speaking from my own experience, it is a safe procedure,” he told Chinese media outlet Jiupai News.
Shao joined the China Marrow Donor Program, a nonprofit with nearly 3.8 million registered donors, in 2019. On May 4, Shao said one of his social media followers had joined the program, inspired by his action.
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