MONEY is a powerful thing.

A Chinese man, who was in a coma for more than a year, suddenly woke up when nurses waved some cash under his nose.

One sniff of a 100 yuan bill — worth $19AUD — was all it took to bring back Shenzhen resident Xiao Li as he lay unconscious in his hospital bed, Central European News reports.

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“It was extraordinary,” said chief medic Dr. Liu Tang. “I’ve never seen anything like it in 20 years as a doctor.”

Li fell into his coma in August 2013 after spending nearly a week at an internet cafe without sleep. He passed out as he was researching business ideas, according to CEN.

For months doctors searched for a way to awaken Li, but to no avail. It wasn’t until his family revealed what he loved most in the world that they found their key to success.

“We had asked his family what really drove him, and they were very clear that it was money,” Tang said. “When we learned about his fondness for money, we experimented with notes and change.

“Memories of smell and sound can be very powerful stimulants,” he added. “We found that a crisp, new 100 yuan note crumpled under his nose worked best.”

While Li’s family continues to hope for the best as he continues his therapy, doctors urged them to remain cautious.

“He still has some way to go before he is discharged,” Tang explained. “But he is making good progress.”