Ai Yi Nong (Deep in Love) is a "silent" restaurant in Yantai, Shandong province - eight of its 11 employees are hearing-impaired while three act as sign language interpreters.

The restaurant has been struggling to keep balance since its opening on June 17, 2011.

"I wish our business could turn around, so that we can open more outlets to offer more job opportunities for the hearing-impaired," said Lin Mianjun, a teacher at Shandong Love Deaf Sign Language Research Center, co-initiater of the idea of this restaurant.

Yang Li, owner of the restaurant, talks with a member staff in sign language. The 24-year-old was a graduate of sign language from Zhongzhou University of Henan province. [Photo / CFP]