logo
China's museums cash in on collectibles craze as souvenirs go viral

China's museums cash in on collectibles craze as souvenirs go viral

Chinese consumers' growing obsession with cute collectible trinkets has generated billions of dollars for companies like Labubu doll maker Pop Mart over the past few years. Now, the country's museums are trying to jump on the trend.
Cultural venues across China are releasing new ranges of creative merchandise, as they try to plug gaping holes in their budgets by tapping into the nation's
'emotional consumption' trend
And some have already scored big hits, with Beijing's National Museum of China selling more than 1 million copies of a fridge magnet shaped like an ornate headdress worn by an ancient Chinese empress, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Rain Zhao, a former intern at the merchandise department of
Beijing's Palace Museum , said there was a genuine hunger among consumers for the museum's gift shop products.
'Around 30 to 40 per cent of visitors would buy at least one or two items,' said Zhao, who spent two months at the museum last summer.
Play
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

As AI gets more powerful, humans and human values must remain in charge
As AI gets more powerful, humans and human values must remain in charge

South China Morning Post

time10 minutes ago

  • South China Morning Post

As AI gets more powerful, humans and human values must remain in charge

Two stylistically distinct films were shown in Chinese cinemas this summer, each depicting a future dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). As the franchise finale, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning revisits past missions, showcasing how deadly weapons that threaten humanity have evolved – from viruses and nuclear weapons to AI, now cast not merely as a tool but the villain's accomplice, even the puppet master. Meanwhile, Ghost in the Shell , the 1995 anime film enjoying a 30th anniversary rescreening, offers a more philosophical approach, exploring the blurred line between humans and AI through a cyborg's existential quest, repeatedly asking: Who am I? Both films reflect different anxieties over the rapid rise of AI: the fear of losing control and a deeper unease about the erosion of human subjectivity. In a future of human-machine symbiosis, if AI surpasses to become an equal or superior presence, can human-centred values still hold? This year, tech giants including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google rolled out AI agents back-to-back, built to automate end-to-end workflows with minimal human input. Heralding AI agents as 'the next giant breakthrough', OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has overseen two landmark releases this year. While Operator helps users fill out forms, order groceries and even complete purchases, Deep Research is designed to carry out complex, multi-step analyses at the level of a research analyst, completing in 'tens of minutes' what would take a human 'many hours'.

An informal taste test: Which one is the best baked pork chop rice in Hong Kong?
An informal taste test: Which one is the best baked pork chop rice in Hong Kong?

South China Morning Post

time5 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

An informal taste test: Which one is the best baked pork chop rice in Hong Kong?

Read more: As a defining Hong Kong comfort food, baked pork chop rice is a classic example of East meets West, where fried rice is topped with a pork chop slathered in a tangy tomato sauce and topped with cheese before being put in the oven. The Post reporters conducted an informal taste test for baked pork chop rice from three different restaurants, to find out what makes a good one and which is the best.

Who is Peter Lai? Renowned Hong Kong lyricist is trending on Chinese social media
Who is Peter Lai? Renowned Hong Kong lyricist is trending on Chinese social media

South China Morning Post

time9 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Who is Peter Lai? Renowned Hong Kong lyricist is trending on Chinese social media

Renowned Hong Kong lyricist Peter Lai Bei-dak is trending on Chinese social media platform Weibo after he disclosed that he helped his 37-year-old son – with whom he has a strained relationship – pay off credit card debt worth hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars. Advertisement Many comments shared on Weibo expressed empathy for the 75-year-old single father, with many users lamenting his situation. Lai also shared with local media platform HK01 that he is currently looking for a soulmate, which sparked fevered discussion in both Hong Kong and mainland China. He seemed unfazed by the reaction and claimed that if Hong Kong singer and actor Lee Lung-kay could find love at the age of 74, why couldn't he? Renowned for crafting the lyrics for classic songs in Hong Kong including 'Monica' (sung by Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing) and 'Drifter's Song' (sung by Sam Hui Koon-kit), the outspoken Lai has also long been familiar to mainland audiences thanks to his role as a comedic private tutor in Stephen Chow Sing-chi's 1993 movie Flirting Scholar. Although his fame peaked during the 1970s and '80s, his lyrics continue to resonate deeply among Chinese pop-culture circles.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store