In Shenzhen, Guangdong province, a car wash employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities has become a model for inclusive employment across China. Since opening in 2015 on Meilin Road, the “Xi Han Er” car wash has enabled people often marginalized in the labor market to maintain stable jobs through a carefully developed system of assessment, training, and task segmentation.

The shop’s name reflects its mission: “Xi” means cherishing, “Han” implies slowness or clumsiness, and “Er” evokes childlike innocence, spotlighting the respectful approach to workers with conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other intellectual disabilities. The employees, whose cognitive abilities approximate those of a typical seven-year-old, perform car-washing tasks to music in a routine that has attracted a loyal customer base within a few kilometers of the site. Over the past decade, they have washed more than 100,000 vehicles.

Founder Cao Jun emphasized that the goal extends beyond providing a service; it is about offering dignity and independence through meaningful work. Employees are paid at least Shenzhen’s monthly minimum wage and develop social and vocational skills. Cao noted improvements in personal confidence, citing his own son’s transformation from a shy individual to one who now interacts comfortably with customers.

China faces a significant employment challenge for this community, with around 12 million individuals living with intellectual disabilities and a national employment rate under 10 percent according to government data. The Xi Han Er model is gaining traction as a scalable solution. By the end of 2025, 63 stores had opened nationally, creating nearly 700 jobs. Locations range from major cities like Nanjing and Hefei to remote regions including Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

The approach has inspired similar initiatives elsewhere. In Jiangxi province’s Xingguo county, Liu Guixiang, chairwoman of the Taoli Group and a veteran in disability vocational education, launched a Xi Han Er branch in 2023. There, young people with intellectual disabilities learn car-washing skills, while hearing-impaired assistants operate a coffee service. Liu highlighted the intensive training required, noting that mastering skills often demands hundreds or thousands of repetitions.

Other regional efforts include Wenzhou’s Starstart bakery and coffee stores for autistic youth, a multi-service care center in Hangzhou combining sheltered employment with social integration, and various enterprises in Inner Mongolia offering autism-friendly and hearing-impaired worker-run businesses.

Government support has helped propel these programs. The China Disabled Persons’ Federation endorsed the nationwide expansion of Xi Han Er in 2022 and further encouraged development in 2024. The China Association of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Relatives has also advocated for wider employment initiatives.

Cao envisions the Xi Han Er project as a transitional platform helping workers bridge from sheltered environments to greater societal integration. “Through such a semi-sheltered workplace, they can begin to step into the world beyond home and school,” he said, “and find a rhythm of life more connected to the society around them.”