YIWU, China, Jan 26 (ABC) : A manufacturing error has transformed a Lunar New Year decoration into an unlikely viral sensation in China, as shoppers flock to buy a plush toy now known online as the “crying horse.”
At Yiwu International Trade City, the country’s largest wholesale market, customers have been crowding into a small shop in search of the red plush horse ahead of the Spring Festival, which this year ushers in the Year of the Horse under the Chinese zodiac.
Originally designed with a cheerful smile, the toy ended up with a downturned mouth after a worker accidentally stitched it upside down, giving the horse a sad expression. The design flaw quickly caught attention on Chinese social media.
“A worker sewed the mouth the wrong way by mistake,” said Zhang Huoqing, owner of the Yiwu-based shop Happy Sister.
Zhang said she initially offered a refund when the error was discovered, but the customer never returned the toy. Soon after, images of the frowning horse began circulating online, accompanied by jokes and memes.
“People said the crying horse shows how you look at work, while the smiling one is how you look after work,” Zhang said.
As interest surged, Zhang decided to continue producing the sad-faced version, which many young office workers say reflects their long hours and job-related stress.
The toy’s popularity also aligns with China’s growing appetite for “ugly-cute” products — a trend driven in recent years by quirky characters such as Pop Mart’s toothy monster Labubu.
“Almost everyone who comes in now asks for the crying horse,” said Lou Zhenxian, a Yiwu vendor with more than two decades of experience selling festive toys.
By early afternoon, shelves displaying the toy were already empty, with staff rushing to restock.
“We’ll keep selling it,” Zhang said. “This crying horse really matches the reality of modern working life.”