‘The warmth of Shanghai’: loyal expat patrons donate US$7,350 to save favourite small hair salon forced to close during Covid-19 lockdown

A hair salon owner forced to close his shop after Shanghai’s lockdown has been moved by his loyal customers who have donated cash to help him

About 95 per cent of the salon’s customers are expatriates, with a group of loyal patrons helping Li make a video to appeal for help online

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Customers of a salon in Shanghai that was forced to close down after Covid-19 lockdowns, have rallied to help its owner try and start over. Photo: Composite

Published: 6:00pm, 19 Aug 2022

A struggling Chinese hairdresser whose hair salon was hit hard by Shanghai’s two-month coronavirus lockdown has been moved by 50,000 yuan (US$7,350) in donations from expat customers to help revive his business.

Martin Li Menghua, 25, and his business partner opened the salon, called Martin & Jin, in Shanghai’s downtown Huangpu District in November 2019.

However, he was forced to close his shop at the end of May due to ongoing losses after his salon’s business was suspended in March when the district was put under Covid-19 lockdown. Despite being forced to close during the lockdown he still had to continue paying rent and staff wages, Dahe News reported.

When Li’s customers, 95 per cent of whom are expatriates, heard the news of the salon’s closure they sprang into action to try and save the business. Some helped Li make a video to appeal for help online, while others started making donations.

Martin Li Menghua’s salon was more than just a place to get a haircut, says his former customers, who used the shop for meeting up and socialising while getting their hair done. Photo: Weibo

So far Li has received more than 50,000 yuan from 80 of his former expat customers, including some of whom have left China. They said they hoped Li’s business could hang on in the city, where many businesses have been forced to close as a result of the lockdown.