Why is Beijing 2022's Mascot So Hot Now?
The other day when I was out around Wangfujing, I saw a curious sight: a line of people stretching from the Beijing 2022 Flagship Store, with people waiting outside for ages so they could get their hands on one thing – a Bing Dwen Dwen (冰墩墩 bīng dūn dūn) doll.
Bing Dwen Dwen fans line up outside the Beijing 2022 flagship store in Wangfujing
The security guard told me people were showing up as early as 7.30am only to wait two hours to be able to make it to the store. "People are so obsessed with Bing Dwen Dwens! There were people lining up all the way from Wangfujing Street to Jinyu Hutong the other day! It was unbelievable!" he said.
The chubby panda in a protective suit, who has been around for quite some time already, has seen a surge in popularity since the opening ceremony. So what's the deal?
What makes you so special, Bing Dwen Dwen?
It seems Bing Dwen Dwen's biggest draw is his looks.
Bing Dwen Dwen first entered the spotlight when Gido Tsujioka, a Japanese journalist, bought six Bing Dwen Dwen pins and flaunted his new collection on live TV.
Gido's colleagues were so impressed by Bing Dwen Dwen, they even got some dolls of their own!
"I fell in love with Bing Dwen Dwen when I first met him," he said.
Just like Tsujioka, Czech figure skater Natalie Taschlerova also couldn't say no to this cute doll. "First night with my panda … good night, everyone," she wrote in a recent blog.
Taschlerova cuddling up to her Bing Dwen Dwen doll
The fact that Bing Dwen Dwen is such a catch makes the situation a little awkward for another Olympic Mascot, Shuey Rhon Rhon (雪容融 xuě róng róng), the official mascot of the 2022 Paralympics, who hasn't been as popular as its peer. "Don't get me wrong, Shuey Rhon Rhon is just as cute," a Beijing 2022 Flagship Store staff member said, "but people are just falling head over heels for Bing Dwen Dwen. This is probably because Bing Dwen Dwen is a giant panda."
Yes, people are falling for Bing Dwen Dwen's fluffy and lovable appearance, but that's not what he's all about. The combination of panda and the ice crystal shell reflects how modern technology is being used in winter sports. But there's still more to it.
Why is this mascot called Bing Dwen Dwen? Well, that's because the character 冰 bīng actually symbolizes purity and strength, which sounds quite fitting for winter sports. The character 墩 dūn simply refers to something that is thick, solid, and cute, which pretty much exactly captures the appearance of a panda, and at the same time symbolizes the strong bodies and inspiring spirits of Olympic athletes.
Even Zhao Weidong, spokesperson for the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee, has taken notice of the trend. "These days some of my friends have been asking me about places to buy Bing Dwen Dwens. I feel like this says a lot about how much people actually care about Winter Olympics," he recently said.
Maybe he has a point. Data from Ctrip shows that since ski resorts opened up in suburban Beijing, ticket sales for ski resorts have more than doubled compared to the same period in 2021. The most recent figures from the travel site show that by October 2021, about 346 million people had participated in winter sports nationwide.
Skiers flock to Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort
There's also a 网红 wǎnghóng element to the whole craze as well.
Whenever something becomes the internet's next favorite thing, people will start following the trend so that they feel like they are one step closer to being part of something big.
The next thing you know, the internet will be brimming with all kinds of Bing Dwen Dwen products targeting consumers who want to jump on the bandwagon.
Netizens have been going crazy over Bing Dwen Dwen on Weibo
"I am only one championship away from Bing Dwen Dwen," one netizen wrote.
Bing Dwen Dwen has become so popular these days that it has even made some people consider selling their previously purchased Bing Dwen Dwens. "I am trying to sell my Bing Dwen Dwen! Perhaps I could make a fortune!" one Beijinger said.
The mascot's trajectory has seen new marketing gimmicks pop up everywhere. There's even a limited edition version of the mascot made out of gold. With a price tage of RMB 33,950, this is truly a gift that shows just how high Bing Dwen Dwen has risen.
Would you want your mascot encased in gold?
What do you think about the Bing Dwen Dwen craze? Let us know in the comments!
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Images: Weibo, Dianping, Irene Li
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