Chinese Learner's Guide to the Labubu Craze

Meet the tiny monster taking over China (and beyond) 💛

The Labubu craze is in full swing — these adorable little monsters are everywhere. Pop Mart shelves empty out in minutes, resellers charge sky-high prices, and your TikTok and Xiaohongshu feeds are likely flooded with unboxing videos.

But what's the story behind this cute little monster? Let's check it out!

Note: This post is for educational fun only. That's Mandarin is not linked with Pop Mart 🤓

Chinese Learner's Guide

to the Labubu Craze

              

01. What's Labubu?

Labubu, or 拉布布 (Lābùbù) in Chinese, is a collectible plush toy — a tiny, magical monster elf that lives in a mysterious forest and loves adventures.

拉布布

Lābùbù

Labubu‍

(collectible plush toys)‍

02. Who Created Labubu?

Labubu began as a character designed by Kasing Lung (龙家升, Lóng Jiāshēng), a Hong Kong–born artist raised in the Netherlands. 

Inspired by classic European fairy tales and his own love of storytelling, Kasing created Labubu as part of his The Monsters series  — cute, fun characters that mix fantasy and charm.

龙家升

Lóng Jiāshēng

Kasing Lung

Source: 百度百科‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

03. Where Can I Get Labubu?

You can get Labubu from Pop Mart (泡泡玛特, Pàopào Mǎtè), the biggest toy store brand in China.

💡Since teaming up with Kasing Lung in 2018, Labubu has become one of Pop Mart's most iconic characters, often selling out in seconds during new launches.

泡泡玛特

Pàopào Mǎtè

Pop Mart, China's toy store‍‍‍

NOTE

‍

Pop Mart is famous for its mystery boxes (盲盒, mánghé), where you don't know which figure you're getting until you open it.

Meet the Monsters Crew

              

Labubu isn't alone! There's a whole tribe called "The Monsters" (精灵天团, Jīnglíng Tiāntuán) with lots of fun characters.

精灵天团

Jīnglíng Tiāntuán

The Monsters

Source: 百度百科

01. KEY CHARACTERS

• Labubu — the curious little elf with nine teeth and pointy ears.

• Zimomo — the tribe leader, tall, tailed, and always up for adventure.

• Mokoko — pink-furred and sweet, with a heart-shaped nose.

• Tycoco — Labubu's shy and introverted partner.

• Yaya — a hyperactive elf who lives in the mountains.

• Spooky — a ghostly forest tribe that appears at night, loving lively places like Labubu's village.

• Pato — daydreamer full of wild ideas.

• Pippo — a river elf who enjoys fine wine and freedom.

• Vos — loud and social Labubu's master.

02. TRIBE RELATIONSHIPS

Here are the key characters and the relationships between them:

Labubu Fever‍

              

Labubu's popularity exploded when Lisa from K-pop band Blackpink was spotted carrying a Labubu keychain.

One snap, and the character became mega-trend across Asia and the globe — making it a must-have for fans everywhere 💛

Source: @lalalalisa_m

LABUBU: FUN FACTS & TRENDS

01. Crazy Queues & Price Hikes

During new releases, Pop Mart stores see long lines of eager buyers hoping to score a rare figure. 

Online marketplaces like Taobao (淘宝, Táobǎo) and Xianyu (闲鱼, Xiányú) are flooded with listings, sometimes priced many times above retail. Collectors joke that buying Labubu is like a lottery (抽奖, chōu jiǎng) 🤓

Source: 小红书

02. Customization Craze

Fans have gotten creative, designing custom outfits for their Labubu dolls — from tiny Prada dresses to traditional Chinese hanfu. 

Source: 小红书

On Xiaohongshu (小红书, Xiǎohóngshū), Labubu dressing hashtags are trending fast, with millions showing off their custom looks. Some fans are even getting tattoos ON their Labubus!

Source: 小红书

03. Pop Mart's Expanding Universe

Across China, Pop Mart is opening special stores and pop-up spaces where fans can explore Labubu's universe ✨ One of the coolest spots is at Shanghai's Kerry Center. There, you'll find a huge Labubu installation with giant figures, fun displays, and exclusive toys you can't get anywhere else.

Source: 小红书

Take It Further

              

Have you managed to get your own Labubu yet?

Join a Chinese class at That's Mandarin and chat about your collection with Chinese teachers👇

Have questions?

Ask us on WeChat!

@thatsmandarin006