With a physically disabled sister and a young brother with Down syndrome, eldest son faces ‘enormous’ financial pressure
2-MIN READ2-MINZoey ZhangPublished: 6:00pm, 28 Apr 2026A 21-year-old man from central China, whose greatest wish is for his parents to stop having more children, sells pork to support his six younger siblings.
In April, Sun Pan, from Shaoyang in Hunan province, captured national attention for shouldering family responsibilities as the eldest son.
According to the mainland media outlet Jimu News, his 18-year-old second sister suffered a childhood fall that disabled her right arm and his youngest brother, born this year, was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
His other younger siblings are still in school. The household also includes his grandparents, though his grandfather is paralysed.
After failing the gaokao, China’s vital college entrance examination, Sun gave up the chance to retake it and instead took on the family burden.
