As people celebrate Lantern Festival which falls on Tuesday, one lantern is more popular than all others – Shuey Rhon Rhon, the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics mascot which is inspired by the red Chinese lantern, and a good companion of Bing Dwen Dwen.
Since Beijing embraced heavy snow over the weekend, red lanterns decorating the city prompted people across Beijing to share such snow-covered lanterns on social media, resembling Shuey Rhon Rhon. Many lucky people who managed to get the mascot took it outdoors to take pictures of it.
Some netizens jokingly said the overlapping of snowfall and Lantern Festival enabled Shuey Rhon Rhon to bounce back following the Bing Dwen Dwen mania.
“You cannot reject a chubby red lantern which waddles around and winks at you with bean eyes!” a net user wrote on Sina Weibo.
Shuey Rhon Rhon-themed souvenirs were also sold out at the official stores.
After the self-made Bing Dwen Dwen challenge among those who failed to buy one, here comes the self-made Shuey Rhon Rhon challenge when netizens stick “snow face” to the common red lanterns. Some people also compared the red and round mascot to tradition Beijing snack – sugar-coated haws.
The heated Winter Olympics competition also fueled the festive atmosphere, and the performers who held peace doves at the Beijing 2022 opening ceremony are scheduled to sing a song at the Lantern Festival gala Tuesday night. China’s Winter Olympic gold medalists Gu Ailing, Ren Ziwei, Wu Dajing, Fan Kexin and Qu Chunyu will also send their festival greetings to the public, according to China News Agency.
Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon Photo: cnsphoto
