Chinese Businessman Closes Restaurant for 13 Days to Donate Stem Cells, Customers Flock to Support Him Upon Reopening
A Chinese restaurateur closed his barbecue shop for 13 days to donate stem cells for a leukemia patient, sparking overwhelming customer support when he reopened. The surge in business became so intense he had to extend hours until 2 a.m. an
A 33-year-old businessman named Xiao Sanhu from Anhui Province, China, closed his barbecue restaurant for 13 days to donate stem cells and help save the life of a 3-year-old girl suffering from leukemia. The inspiring story went viral and generated tremendous customer support when he reopened.
On April 18, he posted a sign saying "Business closed for one week," but customers didn't know he was actually traveling to Hefei to donate stem cells for a young patient. The entire process took 13 days, completing on April 27. After the story spread, numerous customers rushed to support his restaurant. Even after expanding to 50 tables, it wasn't enough—the restaurant had to operate from 8:30 a.m. until 2 a.m. due to constant crowds.
When staff shortages became apparent, the local restaurant association, Red Crescent Society, and rescue teams sent chefs and volunteers to help. Xiao Sanhu plans to relocate his restaurant to a larger space to avoid inconveniencing neighboring businesses.
Xiao Sanhu registered for the stem cell donation program in 2019 and was notified in 2025 that his bone marrow matched a patient. After a health check in early 2026, he completed the donation and recovered well with only minor low blood sugar. "I'm just doing a small thing," he said. "Stem cell donation is a safe process, and I hope more people will participate."
