Paintings by hearing-and speaking-challenged people hang on its walls, and the waitresses and waiters wear shirts bearing characters meaning "Being silent with hearts of craftsmanship".

To open the restaurant cost 200,000 yuan ($31,200), half of which came from a kindhearted man who offered to help Liang without setting any conditions.

"Some day, when I make money, I will pay him back more as a way of saying thanks," Liang wrote.

Liang's wife, Li Yanxue, works as a waitress in the restaurant. She added in writing: "I don't know much about what my husband is doing, but I know he is a good man who wants to help more physically challenged people, so I'd like to support him."

Their 7-year-old son, who can hear and speak, has been good at sign language since he was 4. Li said he occasionally comes to the restaurant to help as a translator.

The couple moved to Jinan eight years ago from a city on the Shandong coast. Liang previously worked as a car washer and welder.

"It's not easy to run a restaurant. Communication is the biggest challenge for me," he wrote. "I want to get this restaurant into better shape so I can provide opportunities for more physically challenged people."