China news today
Beijing, June 23, 2025 – An innocuous-looking toy has ignited a cultural blaze across China. The Labubu mascot—part of the frenzy around Pop Mart's wildly popular blind box collectibles—has moved from a hobbyist fad to a national phenomenon, entertaining Chinese teenagers and raising red flags among parents, teachers, and regulators.
What Is Labubu?
Labubu is a prankster-battling creature created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and produced by China's collectible toy giant Pop Mart. Priced for sale in blind boxes, you play a guessing game with every buy—you won't know what version you've received until you open the box.
Surprise has fueled hot demand with some of these limited Labubu figurines changing hands as high as 1 million yuan (approximately $138,000 USD). Social networking sites Weibo and Xiaohongshu have witnessed hashtags #LabubuCraze and #PopMartAddiction trending for weeks.
⚠️ Government Concern Over Youth Obsession
Chinese regulators are growing more concerned that the blind box phenomenon encourages casino-like behavior among younger consumers. In 2021, China's State Administration for Market Regulation cautioned against this behavior, and recent public statements suggest another round of regulatory scrutiny could be on the horizon.
They say, in a report by The Times, that blind box toys are "psychologically manipulative" and encourage "frivolous materialism." They are banned outright at some schools.
More Than Just a Toy
For young Chinese, collecting Labubu is not necessarily about being a consumerist—it is an act of emotional expression and escapism from an oppressive society. Unemployment rates among young people in China were 20.8% recently, and the phenomenon of Labubu shows there is an urge for entertainment, nostalgia, and artistic freedom in the face of increasing social and economic pressures.
"Labubu is a rebellion in miniature form," comments Shanghai-based sociologist Dr. Wei Lin. "It's whimsical, volatile, and entirely antithetical to the conformity many young Chinese believe they need to adopt."
What's Next?
- Policy: Regulators could soon impose stricter controls on blind box marketing and resale platforms.
- Business: Pop Mart could change to more transparent, honest sales trends.
- Culture: The Labubu debate can provide the door to wider discussions about consumer culture, mental health, and generational conflicts in contemporary China.
Learn More:
- Labubu-led frivolity a fable of modern China – The Times
- Pop Mart official website
- China's youth unemployment hits record high – CNBC
- Blind boxes under scrutiny in China – Global Times