Free steamed bun shop reopens with government support

Eternal Sunshine, a steamed bun shop, has resumed operations on March 5 after a four-month suspension to offer free buns to laid-off workers, impoverished families, unemployed graduates, scavengers, the poor, elderly and homeless in Shishi county of Quanzhou, East China's Fujian province.

Opened in 2011, the eatery is funded by a post-80s man surnamed Wu from Shantou, Guangdong province. Wu runs a frozen meat shipment and wholesale business in Fujian.

Having been through his fair share of difficulties in life, he decided to open the steamed bun shop to give back to society, and fittingly named it "Eternal Sunshine". In the past decade, the shop has provided over 3 million free steamed buns to those in need.

The shop was temporarily closed in November. Wu said around 400,000 yuan is necessary to run the shop for a year. In the beginning, he could afford it, but the burden became heavier in recent years. He has since received some donations to continue the shop.

The local government of Lingxiu township has offered help to restart the shop's operations, such as offering free buildings and equipment and waiving water and electricity charges, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"I am most excited for the shop's reopening," Wu said. "We want to continue passing down love, it's worth it even if only one more person is helped."

To achieve longer and more stable operations, the shop explored new strategies. While continuing to provide free steamed buns, hot water and a resting place for the vulnerable, it will now also sell buns to regular customers for one yuan each.

All earnings will go straight to the charity headquarter of Shishi to help keep the shop running smoothly.

"This place is very good. It's very convenient for people like us," said Wang Meiying, a sanitation worker. "Being able to eat steamed buns here makes me feel very comfortable and happy."