The mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong, unveiled for the 15th National Games this year, have captured public imagination as symbols of China's evolving cultural-creative industry. Lead designer Liu Pingyun emphasized in a recent interview how these characters reflect a decade-long shift toward homegrown design innovation, moving beyond reliance on foreign concepts.
Liu noted that domestic designers now create widely embraced visual symbols and intellectual properties, citing the 2022 Winter Olympics' Bing Dwen Dwen as a catalyst for global recognition. The new mascots incorporate elements of daily life and traditional "smoky-fire" motifs to foster emotional connections with audiences.
With over 2,800 cultural-creative products launched ahead of the 2025 Games, Liu highlighted how this strategy bridges the gap between artistic creation and public engagement. The approach demonstrates China's growing influence in shaping contemporary design narratives while preserving cultural authenticity.
