Fridge magnets have become the latest craze among young Chinese, as they try to collect the most unique from travel spots and special interests.Â
“How can I buy the fridge magnet of the Phoenix Coronet?” asked someone queuing up at the National Museum of China gift shop in Beijing.
It has become a common question at the museum after the fridge magnet, inspired by the phoenix coronet of Empress Xiaoduan from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), went viral on social media. Some people even listed the magnets among their “most wanted cultural and creative products”.
“I got it, very smoothly.” “A little slow. I’ll fight next week.” “Three days a week, only for the phoenix coronet.” Young netizens in China excitedly shared the experience of queuing up to buy the fridge magnet, which has become a hot topic on the network.
The Phoenix Coronet is one of the museum’s most famous exhibits. There are nine phoenixes and nine dragons on the coronet – a type of crown. It is also embellished with pearls, rubies and sapphires.
Sale figures show just how popular the fridge magnet is. According to a report in Beijing Daily, over 80,000 magnets within three months.
Due to limited daily production capacity, the Museum launched a numbering system. There are 1,300 numbers available each day and a limit of two magnets per person.
Fridge magnets at the cultural and creative space of the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing in Beijing. Image from Xinhua
A Unique Way to Record Their Travel Footprints
People’s strong interest in cultural and creative products is one of the reasons behind the frenzy. Especially for young people, buying a fridge magnet with a cultural background has become a consensus.
Not only the Phoenix Coronet, but the ancient building models by the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in Shuozhou and the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, also attract young collectors. Fridge magnets have become a unique way for young people to record their travel footprints.
Every time visiting a museum or a new city, they will buy local fridge magnets as a souvenir. These small objects seem to be able to become an eternal memory of life. On social platforms, the topics on fridge magnets can always attract a lot of people to stop by.
Zhang Jiajia, a culture aficionado, visits museums a couple of times every month, to buy cultural and creative products.
“Refrigerator magnets are exquisite. They serve as ornaments and are rich in culture. To some extent, buying them is like taking culture home.” Zhang said.
Fridge magnets are seen at a shop in Beijing. Image by Wang Chen.
Fridge magnets are seen at a shop in Beijing. Image by Wang Chen.
Fridge magnets are seen at a shop in Beijing. Image by Wang Chen.
Written by Liu Sha, additional reporting by Xinhua, CGTN, and China Daily.
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