China is seeing a rush on horse-themed decorations at Yiwu International Trade Market in Zhejiang as Lunar New Year approaches. Among the best sellers is the “crying horse”, a plush toy born from a factory mistake that left its face looking tearful. The error turned it into a Douyin hit, with millions of views.
Young shoppers have embraced the sad-looking horse as a quiet joke about work stress, while factories in Yiwu have added new production lines to meet demand. Some buyers even pair it with a normal version, keeping the “sad horse” at work and the “happy horse” at home.
