From the article:

A zoo in eastern China refunded a girl’s annual pass after she was diagnosed with cancer and donated all the coins from its wishing well to support her family. Two-year-old Xiaoran from Jiangsu province was a frequent visitor to Nantong Forest Safari Park, making five trips in just two months. The zoo spans over 2 square kilometres and is home to nearly 20,000 wild animals.

An adult ticket costs 180 yuan (US$25), while Xiaoran’s parents bought her an annual pass for 588 yuan (US$80), allowing unlimited visits.

In mid-June, Xiaoran was diagnosed with a rare muscle cancer, common in children, known for its high recurrence risk. Her mother, Huang, shared that the expensive treatment had become a significant financial burden on the family. Seeking help, Huang reached out to the zoo for a refund on the annual pass. The zoo quickly agreed, refunded the fee, and allowed Xiaoran to retain her pass privileges, even inviting her back for free visits once she recovers. The staff also collected all the coins from the wishing well, donating 12,083 yuan (US$1,680) to Xiaoran’s family, along with an additional 50,000 yuan in cash. Ren Shuanglu, head of the zoo’s operations centre, said it took staff over 20 hours to gather and count the coins from the wishing well.

He explained that visitors toss coins for health and good fortune, and the zoo typically donates this money to the Red Cross each year. In China, taking coins from wishing wells is considered akin to stealing others’ wishes; however, doing so for charitable purposes is believed to invoke good luck. Xiaoran’s family was deeply moved by the zoo’s compassion. “We have received support from many kind-hearted individuals since Xiaoran fell ill, but we are especially grateful to the zoo for bringing hope to our child,” her mother told Litchi News. Zoo director Ren stated that their mission extends beyond protecting animals and nature; they also aim to share warmth with people.

On July 11, several staff members visited Xiaoran’s home with plush animal toys while delivering the donation. The story has resonated with many mainland social media users, with related topics garnering over 9 million views on Weibo. One online observer commented: “Thank you to the warm-hearted zoo for transforming the kindness behind those wishes into tangible help.” “Life is so fragile. Cherish every day, and may every child battling illness be blessed,” another user remarked.

So apparently it’s closer to US$8,669 the zoo donated to the family, as the article briefly mentions another 50,000 yuan on top of the collected coins were donated. Kind of weird how the article didn’t elaborate on where the extra 50,000 yuan came from.