In the bustling southern Greater Bay Area, a heartening story of resilience and social innovation unfolds as part of the documentary series Diaries of Taiwan Youth. The latest episode spotlights Zheng Zhiyuan, a young entrepreneur from Taiwan who turned a family restaurant opportunity into a transformative social enterprise.
After relocating to Shenzhen to assist his uncle’s culinary business, Zheng recognized an unmet need: meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2022, he founded Hand Show High Bakery, staffed entirely by workers with physical or developmental challenges. "I wanted to create a space where ability takes center stage," Zheng explains in the documentary.
The bakery has since flourished with support from Shenzhen’s local government, which provided training programs and accessibility grants. Workers gain vocational skills while earning stable incomes, challenging societal stereotypes about disability. "This isn’t charity—it’s about dignity," says one employee, a hearing-impaired pastry chef.
Zheng’s project aligns with broader economic integration trends in the Greater Bay Area, where cross-strait collaborations are fostering innovative solutions to social challenges. Analysts note that such initiatives strengthen people-to-people ties while addressing labor market needs in China’s tech hub.
As Hand Show High prepares to open its third location, Zheng remains focused on his mission: "Every croissant we bake proves that inclusion creates value."
