'Ne Zha 2' merchandise in high demand as it breaks box office records

China

'Ne Zha 2' merchandise in high demand as it breaks box office records

2025-02-09 16:41 Last Updated At：19:57

"Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea", or "Ne Zha 2," the animated feature that has taken China's box office by storm, is also driving a surge in sales of related merchandise and an increasing number of tourists to locations featured in the movie.

According to Chinese ticketing platform Beacon, "Ne Zha 2," a sequel to the 2019 hit featuring a mythical boy with magical powers and exceptional martial arts skills, grossed over 7.503 billion yuan (over 1.03 billion U.S. dollars) as of 23:30 Beijing Time on Saturday. It has become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.

The sequel continues the story of the iconic character from Chinese mythology. Set after the events of the first film, it follows Ne Zha and Ao Bing as their souls are saved but their physical forms face dissolution.

Taiyi Zhenren, an immortal, helps Ne Zha and Ao Bing by using the Seven-Colored Lotus to rebuild their bodies. However, after regaining their physical forms, they still have to overcome many difficulties.

As the film swept Chinese cinemas, the demand for its related merchandise has also skyrocketed, creating a "Ne Zha fever." At a trendy toy store in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, customers lined up in hopes of purchasing blind box toys inspired by the film, only to leave empty-handed as the products were sold out.

A "blind box" is a type of packaging that keeps its contents hidden.

According to staff of the store, most of the Ne Zha-related merchandise had sold out, even on e-commerce platforms.

"It's completely sold out," a customer came all the way from Zhaoqing City to Guangzhou City in south China's Guangdong Province, trying to buy a Ne Zha-themed blind box.

Meanwhile, the film has also sparked a tourism boom to Qianyuan Mountain in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the holy place of Ne Zha's master Taiyi Zhenren practicing Taoism, an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious beliefs based in Chinese customs that emphasizes harmony between humanity and the natural world.

"I came from Chengdu to see Qianyuan Mountain's Golden Light Cave, the very place where Taiyi Zhenren practiced Taoist doctrine," said a tourist.

Spillover effects of Middle East conflict push up prices in Ethiopia

The spillover effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict have driven up commodity prices in Ethiopia, taking a heavy toll on people's daily life, especially for the low-income population.

With U.S.-Israeli joint military strikes on Iran now exceeding one month and no clear resolution in sight, the economic aftershocks are spreading far beyond the Middle East.

As part of its response to U.S. and Israeli operations, Iran has restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, targeting ships associated with the United States and Israel. The blockade of this vital global energy route has driven up oil and gas prices worldwide.

In Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, long queues of vehicles could be seen at gas stations waiting for fuel. Prices of other goods are also on the rise.

"The prices of goods are going up every day. If the conflict continues, life will become very hard, especially for people with low incomes," said Zeynu Yelma, a shop owner.

Beyond rising living costs, the surge in prices has also hit the local construction industry.

"Over the past two weeks, the prices of building materials have risen sharply, severely affecting our work. The price of cement has nearly doubled. Sand and gravel costs continue to rise. The price of steel has also surged. If this trend continues, I'm afraid our work may have to stop," said Yetbarek Workenhe, manager of a construction site.

Although local authorities have been working to secure supplies, provide subsidies, and prioritize public services, the severe international situation continues to widen the supply gap.