When Yang Shuting turned 20 on an operating table in 2011, a traffic accident left her paralyzed from the chest down, challenging her dreams and resilience.
Four years later, determined to rewrite her story, she and her family launched a tiny artificial flower workshop. Their very first order—a 7.7 yuan bouquet—sparked the name Qiqi Tech (七七, qī qī) and ignited a passion for handcrafted blooms.
By 2017, Qiqi Tech’s colorful arrangements were flying overseas, racking up exports worth 42 million yuan. Yet in 2020, Yang saw a new chance to make an impact at home. She pivoted to domestic sales, rolling out over 30 satellite assembly points across rural Hunan in the Chinese mainland.
Today, Qiqi Tech is more than a brand of faux flowers. It’s a social enterprise that employs over 400 locals—many of them women—offering stable incomes and fresh skills. Yang’s journey shows how a single idea, fueled by determination and community, can bloom into brighter futures.
For young global citizens and emerging entrepreneurs, Yang Shuting’s story is a reminder: innovation starts with resilience, and real impact grows when we bring the world closer to home.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
