Mascot unveiled for Hainan consumer products expo

The mascot for the third China International Consumer Products Expo is unveiled on March 3, 2023. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The mascot for the third China International Consumer Products Expo was unveiled on Friday afternoon.

It combines three concepts — high technology, advanced manufacturing and Hainan culture — reflecting a yearning for intelligence and a better life, the Hainan Bureau of International Economic Development said.

The bureau oversees the expo, which will be held from April 11 to 15 in Haikou, Hainan province.

Known as the "mechanical Yuanxiao", it's designed based on the mascot Yuanxiao used in the first China International Consumer Products Expo.

Yuanxiao is made up of two Hainan gibbons, a male and a female. Currently there are 36 Hainan gibbons in the province. They are endemic to the island and represent the most endangered of all gibbons, along with one of the world's rarest primates.

The mascot for the third China International Consumer Products Expo is unveiled on March 3, 2023. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The female is named Yuanyuan, which sounds like gibbons in Chinese. The male, named Xiaoxiao, meaning consumption.

"The combination of gibbons and consumption reflects the important role of the China International Consumer Products Expo as a national exhibition, and fully presents the characteristics of Hainan," said Liu Rutao, deputy director of the Hainan Bureau of International Economic Development.

The mascot for the second expo, developed from the original Yuanxiao, embodies the three distinctive industries of Hainan — seeds, deep-sea and aerospace industries.

The mascot for the third China International Consumer Products Expo is unveiled on March 3, 2023. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Now, for the third expo, the two gibbons are given robotic, mechanical elements. Their faces are an LED screen, which can display nine different expressions. The body is made of metal, and the heart comes with batteries. The body and torso are equipped with compound gears.

Through the introduction of technological components such as metals, gears, batteries and display screens, Yuanyuan and Xiaoxiao are more capable flying, driving and interacting with humans, Liu said.

"This design implies technology-driven; industrial development stimulates new consumption scenarios," Liu added.

The third expo will include the release of peripheral products based on the mascot, such as a refrigerator magnet and eight metal badges. The event's organizing committee will cooperate with international and domestic brands such as Pop Mart to develop mascot IP products.