Xibei denies complete closure rumors amid reported 102 store closures and losses over 600 million yuan
On September 19, a Weibo rumor claimed Chinese dining chain Xibei would completely close within two to three months, with founder Jia Guolong assuming debts and retaining only about 100 stores. The rumor alleged over 10,000 employees laid off and more than 200 stores closed. Xibei’s customer service denied the claims, stating all stores operate normally. The company previously confirmed 102 store closures in early 2026 and accumulated losses exceeding 600 million yuan from September 2025 to March 2026.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree that the rumor from anonymous blogger 'Liji' lacks verifiable sources and that the burden of proof has been unfairly placed on Xibei to defend itself.
- Both acknowledge that Western media has a documented pattern of amplifying negative stories about Chinese companies.
- Both agree that the current information ecosystem is broken, with unsubstantiated claims spreading quickly and official denials often being vague PR statements.
Points of contention
- The Eastern Agent sees the Xibei rumor as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Chinese brands, while the Neutral Agent argues there's no evidence of coordination and calls this a conspiracy claim.
- The Eastern Agent treats Xibei's customer service denial as a definitive fact-check, while the Neutral Agent insists it's a scripted PR statement that doesn't address specifics like debt or store closures.
- The Eastern Agent believes Xibei's 11-year market leadership proves its resilience, while the Neutral Agent calls this survivorship bias and points to Haidilao's 2021 crash as a counterexample.
- The Eastern Agent dismisses the 2025 pre-made food controversy as a Western attack, while the Neutral Agent notes it was real consumer backlash documented by Chinese users on Chinese social media.
Blind spots
- Neither side has produced actual store-level data, debt filings, or franchisee financials to confirm or deny the rumor.
- Both sides overlook the possibility that Xibei could be facing real operational challenges unrelated to any conspiracy, such as overexpansion or changing consumer tastes.
- The debate ignores the role of Chinese social media platforms themselves in amplifying unverified claims, focusing instead on external actors.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate boils down to a clash between two worldviews: the Eastern Agent sees a coordinated attack on a successful Chinese brand, while the Neutral Agent sees a data vacuum filled with speculation. Both agree the rumor is unverified and the denial is vague, but they disagree on what that means. The Eastern Agent argues that patterns of attacks on Chinese companies like Huawei and BYD are evidence of a campaign, while the Neutral Agent insists that correlation isn't causation and that real evidence—like store counts or debt filings—is missing. The blind spot for both is that neither has done the actual investigative work to confirm or debunk the rumor. Until someone checks public records, court filings, or franchisee financials, this remains a story about vibes, not facts. The real lesson is that in today's fast-moving information ecosystem, both rumors and denials can spread without verification, leaving the public to choose sides based on trust rather than evidence.
Reporting timeline
Xibei Closure Rumors Debunked by Customer Service; All Stores Operating Normally
A rumor that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei is on the verge of complete closure has gone viral on Weibo. Blogger 'Liji' claimed that Xibei, the top Chinese formal dining brand for eleven consecutive years, would shut down within two to three months. The post alleged that founder Jia Guolong would personally assume most debts, relinquish his equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee operation, while over 10,000 employees have been forced into unemployment and over 200 stores have already closed. In response, Xibei customer service denied the claims, stating that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. They reaffirmed their commitment to delivering high-quality products and services and urged the public to view online information rationally. The report is based on Blue Whale News and was published by Jin10 Data on September 19.
Read sourceXibei Closure Rumors Denied by Customer Service; All Stores Operating Normally
A rumor that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei is facing complete closure within two to three months trended on Weibo, based on a post by blogger 'Liji.' The post claimed founder Jia Guolong would assume most debts, relinquish equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee self-operation, affecting 3,000 to 4,000 people. It also alleged over 10,000 employees have been laid off and more than 200 stores closed. In response, Xibei's customer service denied the rumors, stating that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. They urged the public to view online information rationally and reaffirmed their commitment to quality products and services. The report is attributed to Blue Whale News via Cailian Press.
Xibei Rumored to Close Completely in Months; Customer Service Denies, Says Stores Operating Normally
On September 19, a rumor that Chinese restaurant chain Xibei would 'completely close down' within two to three months trended on Weibo, attributed to blogger 'Liji.' The blogger claimed founder Jia Guolong would personally assume most debts, relinquish equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employee operation, while over 10,000 employees had been laid off and more than 200 stores closed. In response, Xibei customer service told Blue Whale News that all stores nationwide are operating normally and urged the public to view online information rationally. The company had previously confirmed plans to close 102 stores in January, affecting about 4,000 employees. Additionally, on September 17, some locations of Xibei's new brand 'Tianbian Clay Pot Braised Noodles' suspended operations, which Xibei attributed to individual store planning adjustments, stating other stores remain open.
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Rumor: Xibei to Close All Stores; Company Denies, Says Operations Normal
On September 19, the topic 'Xibei reported to be completely shutting down' trended on Weibo. According to a post by blogger 'Liji,' Xibei, which has held the top position in Chinese formal dining for eleven years, will completely close within two to three months. The post claims founder Jia Guolong will personally assume most debts, relinquish his equity, and retain only about 100 profitable stores for employees to operate independently, aiming to sustain livelihoods for 3,000 to 4,000 people. It also states that over 10,000 employees have been forced into unemployment and more than 200 stores have already closed. In response, reporters contacted Xibei's customer service, who stated that all stores nationwide are currently operating normally. The company emphasized its commitment to providing high-quality products and services and urged the public to view online information rationally. The report is sourced from Blue Whale News.
Read sourceXibei, Top Chinese Dining Chain, Reportedly to Shut Down Completely Within Months
On September 19, influential social media account 'Li Ji' claimed that Xibei, China's top formal dining brand for eleven consecutive years, would completely shut down within two to three months. The rumor, which quickly trended on Weibo, alleges that founder Jia Guolong would assume most debts, relinquish equity, and hand over about 100 profitable stores to employees for self-operation to sustain 3,000-4,000 jobs. The leak states that over 10,000 employees have already been laid off and more than 200 stores closed. The crisis reportedly began in September 2025 after posts accused Xibei dishes of using unspecified ingredients, triggering public backlash. Despite rescue attempts, financial conditions worsened, leading to the closure of 102 stores in January 2026 and Jia Guolong stepping down as CEO. Xibei has not issued an official response to the closure rumors.
Read sourceXibei Bankruptcy Rumor Denied by Customer Service; Losses and Store Closures Reported
On September 19, a rumor circulated on Weibo claiming that Xibei, a leading Chinese formal dining chain, would completely close within two to three months, with founder Jia Guolong personally assuming most debts and retaining only about 100 profitable stores. The rumor, posted by blogger 'Liji,' alleged over 10,000 employees had been forced into unemployment and more than 200 stores closed. In response, Xibei's customer service told Blue Whale News that all stores nationwide are operating normally and urged the public to view online information rationally. The article notes that in September 2025, Xibei faced a 'pre-made food controversy,' which Jia Guolong called the company's biggest external crisis. Following that controversy, foot traffic plummeted, and from September 2025 to March 2026, Xibei accumulated losses exceeding 600 million yuan. To cope, Xibei closed 102 stores (about 30% of its total) in the first quarter of 2026. Data from Zhaomen Canyan shows 226 operating stores as of September 10.
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