Beijing, China – February 26, 2026 — A Henan-based crane manufacturing company has captured global attention after its chairman orchestrated a dramatic year-end bonus distribution, laying out millions in physical cash across banquet tables for employees to count and carry home. Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd. (also referred to as Henan Mining Crane or Henan Kuangshan Crane Group) hosted its annual gala on February 13, 2026, where more than 60 million yuan (approximately US$8.7 million) in cash was distributed on-site as part of a total year-end bonus pool exceeding 180 million yuan (about US$26 million).
The event, attended by nearly 7,000 employees and family members across roughly 800 banquet tables, featured vivid scenes of cash stacks under bright lights. Employees participated in interactive activities, including a "counting challenge" where participants were given a limited time—often reported as 15 minutes—to tally as much cash as possible from tables laden with banknotes. Whatever amount they accurately counted, they could keep and take home. Videos circulating on Chinese social media and international platforms showed workers eagerly counting bundles, some struggling to carry armfuls of notes off stage, with piles spilling over in the excitement.
Company founder and chairman Cui Peijun, who holds approximately 98.88% of the company's shares, personally drove the generosity. During the gala, he reportedly interrupted proceedings to question the finance team about planned physical gifts like washing machines. "Why are we giving out washing machines? Do you think gold prices have gone up?" Cui asked, according to reports from the South China Morning Post and other outlets. He then instructed an additional 20,000 yuan (around US$2,800) in cash for everyone, replacing earlier non-cash rewards such as necklaces and rings from previous years.
Cui explained the preference for physical cash over bank transfers, stating it creates a tangible, exciting experience rather than "just cold numbers." He has consistently emphasized his motivation: supporting young employees burdened by car loans, mortgages, and other financial pressures. "It is not that I love giving out money, it is that young people are burdened with car loans and mortgages and any relief we can offer helps," Cui has said in past interviews, a sentiment echoed in coverage of this event.
The total bonus distribution represented nearly 70% of the company's reported 2025 profit of 270 million yuan (about US$38 million). On-site cash handouts alone topped 60 million yuan, with the remainder delivered online or through other channels. This approach aligns with the firm's longstanding tradition of sharing profits generously with its workforce.
Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd., established in September 2002 in Henan Province, specializes in manufacturing and renting industrial cranes, including single and double girder overhead travelling cranes, gantry cranes, wire rope hoists, jib cranes, ladle cranes, and related accessories like spreaders and aerial work platforms. Operating under the "Kuangyuan" brand, the company has expanded to business activities in over 130 countries and employs thousands, with recent figures citing around 4,500 core staff, though gala attendance included families.
This is far from the first time the company has made headlines for extravagant employee rewards. In 2024, it recorded a net profit of 260 million yuan (US$38 million), distributing 170 million yuan to employees. In 2023, a sales performance event saw 61 million yuan awarded to just 40 top salespeople, with the highest performers receiving up to 5 million yuan each (about US$730,000 at the time), and a cash-stacking spectacle that went viral as "money mountains." That year also featured a counting competition where one employee took home 157,000 yuan. Additional gestures include mid-2025 bonuses for female employees on International Women's Day and mid-autumn gifts to parents of staff.
Cui Peijun, often dubbed by netizens as the "boss who loves giving out money the most" or "the most generous boss online," has built a reputation for prioritizing employee welfare. He has defended the cash-heavy approach against occasional accusations of showmanship, insisting the intent is genuine support and creating a festive, communal atmosphere during celebrations like Chinese New Year.
The February 13 event, timed ahead of the Lunar New Year, sparked widespread envy and praise on social media in China and abroad. International outlets, including the Daily Mail, WION, Hindustan Times, and even Korea's Chosun Daily, amplified the story, with some noting individual hauls—one employee reportedly carried home the equivalent of around US$13,000 in cash after a counting round.
The spectacle underscores a unique corporate culture in parts of China's private sector, where profit-sharing and dramatic gestures aim to boost morale, loyalty, and productivity in competitive industries. For Henan Kuangshan Crane, the strategy appears tied to strong performance in global crane markets, allowing substantial reinvestment in human capital.
As videos of employees hauling cash bundles continue to circulate, the event has reinforced Cui's image as an unconventional leader who believes in direct, visible rewards. While skeptics question sustainability or tax implications, the company's consistent track record suggests this generosity is a core part of its operational philosophy.
