Chinese crying horse sells out
BEIJING — A frowning red horse has become the surprise hit toy of the Chinese New Year holiday, capturing the mood here better than any data point. Embroidered with a Chinese phrase wishing swift wealth, the stuffed toy was supposed to kick off the Year of the Horse with a gallop and a smile. But a worker’s stitching mistake turned that smiling expression upside down — and turned the toy into a national emoji for an economy that has lately been more “neigh” than “yea.” At a time of slowing economic growth and dimming job prospects for many workers, the toy has been embraced as the “cry, cry horse” and become an internet sensation. “The economy hasn’t been great, and life’s been tough for a lot of people these past couple of years,” said Zhang Ziqi, 24, a teacher in Hebei province. “That crying expression really matches how most people feel — stressed, anxious, kind of down.”
“It’s about allowing yourself to not be OK, to admit you’re in a low period,” she said in an interview this week. Zhang said she offered a refund when a customer pointed out the mistake, but the horse was never returned. Soon, photos of it turned up online and quickly spread across social media. “Many customers liked it, and then it started selling very well,” she told Reuters. “So we just kept producing them.” Since then, Zhang’s shop has been rushing to keep up with orders for the “accidental edition,” including some from overseas, and knockoffs have proliferated online. According to media reports, the worker who first made the mistake has been rewarded with an annual bonus of $1,280 for the next 12 years. Zhang, who declined an interview request from NBC News, said in a social media post that the media attention was exhausting but that she felt “grateful and humbled” by the response. The horse, which sells for about $3.60, “really suits the reality of modern working people,” she told Reuters. Slowing growth in China, the world’s second-biggest economy, has left stressed-out office workers struggling to get ahead despite toiling long hours and feeling disillusioned overall.
It doesn’t help that 2026 is not just the Year of the Horse but also the Year of the Fire Horse, which, according to the Chinese zodiac, means opportunities for growth, bold action and rapid change but also greater intensity and the risk of burnout. Michelle Du, who works in public relations in Hong Kong, said the horse “fits the vibe people are into right now, that kind of random, absurd humor.” It’s the latest in a series of sardonic trends in China, where “ugly-cute” Labubu dolls have been flying off the shelves and a check-in app that asked isolated users “Are You Dead?” went viral. Du said that while the horse is funny, she wouldn’t buy one for herself. “I’m a bit superstitious,” she said, “and I want good luck for the new year.”
Smiles made in China
What’s the longest-lasting thing made in China?
COVID-19.
Ever wonder why China has over 1 billion population?
Cause the condoms they use are “Made in China.”
“The Chinese economy has shown signs of slowing down.
Experts say that’s what happens when your workforce starts to enter its teens.”
Why don’t you ever see Golf clubs that are “Made in China?”
Because you can’t trust Asian Drivers.
March 19th Birthdays
1947 – Glenn Close, 1991 – Maddy Hill, 1996 – Julia Montes, 1988 – Josie Loren
1955 – Bruce Willis, 1988 – Clayton Kershaw, 1959 – Andy Reid, 1848 – Wyatt Earp