Beijing Hospital Gets $3.5M in Donations After Closure Risk

When court notices appeared on the doors of Beijing SmileAngel Children's Hospital this month, founder Li Yapeng prepared for the worst. The hospital owed $3.5 million in unpaid rent after the pandemic devastated its finances.

Then something remarkable happened. Within days of Li's heartfelt social media post, more than 340,000 people donated over $3 million to help the hospital's mission continue.

SmileAngel has been a lifeline for children born with cleft lips and palates since actor Li Yapeng co-founded it in 2012, inspired by his daughter's own cleft lip. The hospital has performed over 7,000 fully funded surgeries, transforming the lives of children whose families couldn't afford treatment.

The hospital stopped paying full rent in January 2022 as pandemic restrictions crushed its finances. Unlike typical nonprofits, SmileAngel runs on a unique self-sustaining model, using income from general medical services to fund free surgeries for children who need them most.

A Beijing court ruled the hospital must vacate and pay its debts, a decision upheld on appeal in July 2025. The landlord has pushed for enforcement, but the hospital staff refuses to abandon children in the middle of multistage surgical treatments.

The Ripple Effect spreads far beyond one hospital's survival. This wave of support reveals how deeply people care about protecting vulnerable children, with donations flooding in from across China to the Smile Angel Foundation. However, these funds are legally restricted to surgical costs and cannot cover rent or operations.

Experts now see this crisis as a turning point for nonprofit healthcare in China. "Relying entirely on charity will face sustainability challenges," said Wang Zhenyao of the China Philanthropy Research Institute, calling for more government backing of essential pediatric services.

The hospital faces tough choices ahead. Li estimates establishing a new location would cost at least $4 million, not including ongoing expenses. Meanwhile, a business in Jiangsu province has offered 2,500 square meters of space for a potential branch, showing how corporate support can complement individual giving.

The first $1.3 million in donations will fund approximately 1,000 surgeries. Li remains committed: "The hospital is built on the support of tens of thousands of donors over more than a decade. We will do everything we can to ensure it continues."

Staff continue treating children while negotiating with the landlord for a resolution that keeps this vital medical mission alive.