Have you seen these crazy, cute "chickens" all over the internet lately?
I'm talking about the mascots for the 15th National Games. Their official names are "Xiyangyang" and "Lerongrong". But on the internet, everyone affectionately calls them the "Greater Bay Chicken"!
These mascots are everywhere right now. Their merchandise sells out the moment it hits shelves, and videos featuring them have racked up billions of views. So, what's their secret? Why is everyone obsessed with them?
Well, the funny thing is, they are not even chickens.
The designer actually based the mascots on the Chinese white dolphin. The design is full of symbolic meaning, with the three colorful waves on their heads representing the unity of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.
But when people in Guangdong first saw their round, plump, white-and-pink bodies and the wavy crest on their heads, they immediately thought of two iconic local dishes, White Cut Chicken and Soy Sauce Chicken! So, the nickname "Greater Bay Chicken" was born. It was a hilarious case of "mistaking a dolphin for a chicken".
What truly brought these "chickens" to life, however, were the young performers inside the costumes.
These performers are martial arts students, aged 13 to 16, from schools like Foshan's Wong Fei-Hung Martial Arts School. Wearing heavy suits that weigh 8 kilograms, they didn't just wave at the crowd; they went all out! They did handstands, spun in dizzying circles, chased audiences for hugs, and even bounced right back up after accidentally bumping into railings. Their "no-rules" craziness was full of pure joy.
The organizers didn't try to correct the public's "misunderstanding." Instead, they embraced the "Greater Bay Chicken" nickname and even shared the memes themselves. This encouraged people to create even more hilarious content, from funny stickers to viral videos.
The story of the "Greater Bay Chicken" is more than just a tale of cute mascots. It's a story about joy, creativity, and a beautiful two-way interaction between the public and the event.
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