bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Wendy Wu

A devoted father from central China has eaten nothing but noodles and steamed buns for the past seven years so he can afford to fund his daughter’s dream to become a top gymnast, local media reported.
Hou Yanwei, a 49-year-old street cleaner and sports fan from Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, said his 11-year-old daughter, nicknamed Xinxin, had been passionate about gymnastics since the age of four, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported on Wednesday.

For the past five years, the girl has been enrolled at the Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, where she is doing well, the report said.
“My biggest dream is that my daughter will make the national team,” Hou said in a video published on Tencent.com.
Cruel or cool? Seven-year-old with a six-pack sparks debate in China
It is an ambition that has put a huge strain on the family’s finances, the newspaper report said.
Despite earning only 2,000 yuan (US$300) a month, Hou has to find 14,000 yuan a year to cover Xinxin’s tuition fees, and a further 3,000 yuan a year for her day-to-day expenses.
The father and daughter live in a tiny flat, which costs them about 300 yuan a month, and Hou does all he can to keep his other outgoings to a minimum, the report said, adding that he and the child’s mother divorced several years ago.

“Since my daughter started doing gymnastics, I’ve chosen to eat noodles and steamed buns as they are not expensive,” he said.
“I am not a capable man, and am unable to give my daughter a wealthy family life, but I am willing to carry more bitterness to pay for a good education for her,” he said.
Chinese dad uses his noodle to raise money for autistic son
Hou calculated that he has eaten about two tonnes of noodles over the past seven years, and said he never allowed himself more than 10 yuan to cover his daily expenses.
“It is not easy, but I promised I would support her,” he said. “I hope she will have a better life than me.”
Hou’s story is reminiscent of the Indian film Dangal, which tells the story of a poor father who teaches his daughters to become medal-winning wrestlers and was a smash hit in China.
“The love of a father is as strong as a mountain,” an internet user said after reading Hou’s story online.


Silver lining in China’s ageing population shouldn’t be overlooked

China wife of gay husband contests estate against his lover and parents after man’s death

Pursuit of hoppiness: why China’s cash-conscious drinkers have embraced craft beers

Why Chinese women like me are done being quiet and ‘appropriate’

China society

Chinese dad eats two tonnes of noodles to fund his daughter’s gymnastics dream

Devoted dad Hou tucks into a bowl of noodles. He said he was happy to make sacrifices to give his daughter the chance of a better life. Photo: Handout

=== NO ARCHIVE IMAGE === ATN. NOODLES30. A street cleaner ate two tons of noodles in seven years, saving money to support his daughter's gymnastic dream. UNDATED HANDOUT

News

China

People & Culture

Street cleaner who longs to see his child make the national team allows himself just 10 yuan a day for expenses


Chinese dad eats two tonnes of noodles to fund his daughter’s gymnastics dream

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Street cleaner who longs to see his child make the national team allows himself just 10 yuan a day for expenses

Street cleaner who longs to see his child make the national team allows himself just 10 yuan a day for expenses