Guizhou man raises dolls as his daughters

Sixty-year-old Li Shu from Guizhou Province is the proud father of nine daughters. He dresses them, brushes their hair, watches TV with them, and he takes them to the mall, just like a regular dad. But his daughters all share an unusual trait: they’re made of plastic.

Li bought his first silicone doll in 2014. His collection has since grown, and some friends have entrusted them with their own dolls, because they believe he’ll take good care of them. He’s bought nearly 200 sets of clothing for his dolls, and carefully bathes them each month to keep them clean. Most of his dolls were ordered online, and he’s started making requests to the stores that they make a wider range of clothing for them.

Li’s story came to light after he started posting pictures and videos online of the excursions he’s gone on with his dolls. His online fame has attracted a lot of followers, but also some abuse from people who think his hobby is unhealthy or perverse. But Li stresses that he treats the dolls like daughters – and nothing more.

Li’s 14-year-old niece shares her uncle’s love for dolls. She has her own doll that she dresses up and reads stories to before bed. She’s said that she wants to design dresses for dolls when she grows up.