Crying Horse Goes Viral as China’s Workday Fatigue Meme
A red Yiwu-made plush horse meant to smile but printed upside down ends up with tears, becoming a viral symbol of Chinese worker burnout amid 996 overtime culture. The toy’s unexpected popularity has driven daily orders well into the tens of thousands, spurred a production-line expansion, and drawn wholesale interest from overseas, while the maker rewards the unknown sewers for the manufacturing hiccup. The trend fits a broader ugly‑cute toy zeitgeist and conversation about work pressure in China.