Bao dolls or upgraded to Hefei tourist souvenirs
Bossgoo DEMO , https://www.bossgoodemo.com
September 25, 2025
In a bustling corner near Hefei Railway Station, a group of talking "Bao Gong" dolls has become a local attraction. As pedestrians pass by, they often stop to smile and engage with the dolls. When asked, "Where did you come from?" Bao Gong would proudly respond, "I was born in Hefei, Anhui." Meanwhile, "Sister Yue" chimed in, saying, "The elders are proud of the people from Anhui."
Recently, these talking dolls, which were featured on the front page of a morning newspaper, have caught the attention of local officials. They are now being considered as potential tourist souvenirs for Hefei, aiming to promote the city's cultural heritage.
The idea of creating interactive dolls first came up during the China Expo. Zhang Fubin, a representative from Anhui Jiabao Toys Co., Ltd., shared that it was an unexpected but creative concept. As a local company, they wanted to incorporate Hefei’s traditional culture into their products, making small, culturally significant dolls.
While visiting the Expo, Zhang noticed some promotional materials from Hefei Tourism and local animations like "Black-faced Da Bao Gong." Inspired by this, the team decided to create plush dolls based on the characters from the cartoon.
In the company’s store, visitors can find not only Bao Gong dolls but also Zhan Zhao and other characters. One of the most unique creations is the "Monthly Sister" doll, derived from the Moon on Bao Gong’s forehead.
Among the series, Bao Gong dolls come in various versions: the Q version is small and ideal for decoration, the plain-clothed one looks more natural, and the official version is dressed in formal attire, exuding dignity. Additionally, the company has developed a smart version that can interact with users, answering questions such as "Where are you from?" or "Tell me a story," covering 78 different topics.
Zhang Fubin explained that the smart dolls can tell funny stories, solve riddles, and serve as excellent ambassadors for Bao Gong culture. The price range varies from tens of dollars to over 100 yuan. In the first half of the year, the product was launched and sold well, with more than half of the buyers being foreign tourists.
The company is now working on expanding the Bao Gong brand, similar to Haibao, the mascot of the Shanghai World Expo. Zhang mentioned that they plan to introduce more derivative products in the future.
Currently, Bao Gong dolls are relatively expensive and large, making them more suitable as decorations or toys. However, the team is now designing practical items like phone accessories, pen holders, and pillows, all in a cartoon style. These products aim to reach a broader audience with different price points.
Zhang believes that these practical and diverse Bao Gong products will appeal to more people. Since the dolls first appeared on the front page of a newspaper on September 7th, many citizens have expressed excitement, calling them "instantly bright." They believe the cute little Bao Gong could become the face of Hefei.
"Baogong Culture is Hefei's native culture and its own brand," Zhang said. After launching the dolls, he has tried several times to collaborate with local authorities to further promote the brand.
On the same day, a representative from the Hefei Tourism Bureau confirmed that the city is currently developing a range of tourist souvenirs for government gifts. Bao Gong dolls may be included in the selection process, ensuring consistency across the entire set of tourism products. The representative added that in the future, Bao Gong dolls could be promoted as a special tourism product at exhibitions and tourism events.