Gansu Provincial Museum spices up gift shop with malatang plush toys

A fluffy 'clay pot' with a fuzzy lid, when lifted, reveals an assortment of plush malatang ingredients nestled inside. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

Recently, Gansu Provincial Museum sells "malatang" (spicy hot pot) trended on social media. The malatang series of plush toys has become another popular cultural creation from the Gansu Provincial Museum, following the success of the "Bronze Galloping Horse" plush toy.

The creative team behind this product line explained that malatang is part of the Gansu Specialties series. It features six classic "ingredients": broccoli, baby cabbage, mushroom, crab stick, meatball, and rice cake.

Beyond malatang, the Gansu Specialties series also showcases such distinctive agricultural products as potatoes, cherries, and soft pears.

The Gansu Provincial Museum's creative team hopes that visitors can immerse themselves in Gansu's unique local culture while enjoying these whimsical cultural products.

Notably, purchasing malatang plush toys involves more than just selecting and paying. After choosing their items, customers engage in an interactive process where staff members discuss preferences, inquire about desired "flavors", sprinkle "secret sauce", and patiently "cook" the order, mirroring the real malatang experience.