In a factory in Dehua, Fujian, workers are applying decals to the ceramic version of Bing Dwen Dwen. [Photo by DONG YANJUN/LI HONGTU/FOR CHINA DAILY]

The mascot for the Beijing Winter Olympics, Bing Dwen Dwen, has enjoyed an increasing rise in popularity. It seems to have taken the gold for the most favored prop for athlete snapshots. Such has been the surge in popularity that products with its image are difficult to get in the Winter Olympic Village. The question "do you have Bing Dwen Dwen?" is now a form of greeting. Some say the mascot has become the best ambassador for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The popularity stems mainly from its naive and cute appearance. Its shape combines the image of a panda with an ice crystal shell, inspired by the "ice ribbon" of the National Speed Skating Oval. The flowing color lines symbolize the ice and snow sports track. The design, full of modernity and technology, conveys the charm of China and expresses the beauty of the Olympic Games.

Many people facing difficulties buying one have no choice but to turn to scalpers for help. There have been continual demands to increase supply and end the shortage. A toy manufacturing company, located in Qidong, Nantong, Jiangsu province, is one of the three companies in China that participate in designing and manufacturing the mascot. Currently, the company is stepping up its production to meet market demand.

In the production workshop, the semifinished Bing Dwen Dwens pile up on the processing tabletop. Workers put on a transparent "coat", install it on a fixed base, and wrap it in a special packaging box. A cute Bing Dwen Dwen is then transported to the designated store.

A worker, surnamed Shen, who has been with the company for more than 10 years, is responsible for installing the base for Bing Dwen Dwen. In order to ensure that the doll does not fall, and looks elfish, she must test it. Shen, with a smile on her face, says packaging Bing Dwen Dwen is comforting. In fact, the seemingly simple packaging process shows the workers' devotion to delivering happiness.

"After all, we treat it with lots of care, just like our own children," says Wang Danfeng, technical director of the company's development department. He is excited about the mascot's overnight fame. Wang and his team have their own best practices and insider secrets to make it pop out of the design phase and become a lively plush toy. They have done extensive research and design on the size of the eyes, the color or the detailed expressions, the selection of fabrics, the curvature of the overall shape and the proportion of visual comfort.

"Cutting, sewing, embroidering, stuffing cotton, binding… each plush part of the doll is purely handmade. The eyes are crystal and watery, because cardboard paper is added; the nose is translucent with the use of a light coating," Wang says.

Making Bing Dwen Dwen is more complicated than ordinary plush toys. It's the first time for the team to make a stuffed toy with a shell. Speaking of the toy's transparent "coat", Wang says, after more than two months of repeated revisions from proofing to finalization, it was approved by the Organizing Committee of the Winter Olympics.

The company's display racks also pack mascot dolls from the many important competitions held in China, such as Fuwa from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the mascot of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Haibao, Nanjing Youth Olympic Games mascot Nanjinglele among others. The person in charge of the company says that many years of experience in manufacturing plush toys have won them a solid reputation in the industry. The company is responsible for its own profit and loss. Not every mascot can become popular like Bing Dwen Dwen, but they are willing to contribute to every big sports event that makes the public proud.

On the afternoon of Feb 8, the first batch of 200 Bing Dwen Dwens were shipped. They have received new orders for 7,000 Bing Dwen Dwens and 20,000 Shuey Rhon Rhons. Employees have been organized to hasten delivery to meet the needs of consumers. About 2,000 Bing Dwen Dwens are expected to be produced each day.

In Dehua, Fujian, a ceramics company is also ramping up production to ensure the supply. Their ceramic Bing Dwen Dwens are handmade by local artisans.