Creative cultural merchandise from China's ongoing 15th National Games is surging in popularity across Guangdong Province, with some official retail stores running out of stock amid soaring demand.
The event, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, has sparked a frenzy among enthusiasts eager to collect themed souvenirs.
More than 20 types of licensed products are flying off the shelves, including plush mascot toys, emblem fridge magnets, commemorative badges and coins, blind box figures, and daily essentials.
Among the most sought-after items are the mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong inspired by the Chinese white dolphins, endangered species that are under first-class national protection.
A newly released blind box series that blends the Games' themes with elements from Journey to the West has also drawn significant attention.
"It looks cute. Compared to other blind boxes, it better matches my aesthetic, so I bought one," said a customer at a Games licensed store in Guangzhou.
"I just queued for five minutes to buy it. There is a limit of only one for one buyer. It's for my mom, because she loves it," said another buyer.
Staff members of the licensed store said popular items remain in high demand even with daily stocking. Aside from the mascot dolls and bind boxes, gold-inlaid jade commemoratives of the Games are also quite popular.
"The available items now include the blind boxes on the Journey to the West and the ball sports blind boxes, with some stock still available. The Three Kingdoms blind boxes and the Zodiac blind boxes are already sold out. Currently, all peripheral products for the National Games are incredibly popular," said Mo Qiongyi, manager of an official licensed merchandise retail store in Guangzhou City.
Mo said more product varieties will continue to arrive in the following days.
Running till November 21, China's 15th National Games feature over 25,000 athletes across different age groups competing in 419 gold medal events in 34 competition sports for elite athletes and other 166 gold medal events in 23 amateur competitions and exhibition events.
China’s National Games merchandise flying off shelves in Guangdong
