Refer China: Minors Ordered to Pay ¥2。2 Million After Urinating in Hotpot

NEWS

Minors Ordered to Pay Haidilao ¥2.2 Million After Urinating in Hotpot

In a case that sparked national outrage earlier this year, two underage boys were found liable for urinating into a hotpot at a Haidilao restaurant in Shanghai. A court has now ordered them and their guardians to pay a total of ¥2.2 million (approximately $300,000 USD) in damages to the restaurant chain.

Check our latest video on China Visa and foreign-related knowledge!

Follow our channel for updates 👇

The incident occurred in March 2025 at the Haidilao branch located on the Shanghai Bund. A viral video showed one of the boys standing on a table and urinating into a four-grid hotpot, shocking viewers across social media. Following an investigation, Shanghai police detained the two individuals—identified only by their surnames Tang and Wu—for 10 days under administrative punishment.

In response to the scandal, Haidilao refunded all 4,109 dining orders made between February 24 and March 8 at that location. Each affected customer received a full refund and an additional 10x compensation, amounting to over ¥20 million in total.

Haidilao then filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages from the minors and their parents. The plaintiffs—Sichuan Xinpai Catering Management Co. and Shanghai Laopai Catering Management Co.—requested public apologies, compensation for lost business and reputational harm totaling ¥23 million, and reimbursement for additional cleaning and legal expenses.

On September 12, 2025, the Shanghai Huangpu District People's Court issued a first-instance ruling. The court ordered the parents of the two boys to pay for cleaning and sanitation costs (¥130,000), commercial and reputational losses (¥2 million), and legal fees (¥70,000), totaling ¥2.2 million. If the minors have personal assets, compensation is to be paid from those first.

Additionally, the court mandated that the minors and their parents publish public apologies in designated newspapers, under conditions that protect the children's identities.

A staff member at the Haidilao Shanghai Bund branch confirmed the ruling and noted that it was unclear whether the defendants planned to appeal.

Source: 潇湘晨报