Chinese snack vendor makes serious dough in NYC

A street vendor from Henan Province recently astonished netizens after it was revealed that on a good day he makes up to $800 selling Chinese snacks in New York City.

Operating a licensed food cart near Columbia University in Manhattan, Xie Yunfeng is making more than he ever could in his native Luoyang selling northeastern Chinese foods such as Roujiamo, the equivalent of a Chinese hamburger, and a cold noodle dish named Liangpi, according to Duan Gang, vice president of Beijing Media Corporation, who first blogged about Xie on June 5.

Web users expressed admiration for the 47-year-old Xie, who managed to run a successful small business abroad after only two years with no English-language skills to speak of. Xie said he received his vending license from the New York City Department of Health after passing an examination in Chinese.

"But Xie explains it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Xie has paid over 1,000 dollars in fines for infractions such as putting an electric generator on the sidewalk."

Xie's wife of 20 years Xie Huijuan told the Zhengzhou Evening News that Xie had left for the US in 2011 with the "help of a friend," and though he hasn't returned since often sends money home.