Zeng Zhou's Chengdu studio buzzes with creative energy as kids giggle while arranging chubby "Mang Mang Panda" figurines clutching Sichuan treats - these aren't just toys, but edible history lessons molded from local flavors like sticky rice cakes and braised trotters.
This hands-on creativity represents China's bold 2024 move: recognizing "Cultural Creative Product Planning Operator" as an official profession. Young innovators like Zhou are reinventing heritage, transforming museum relics into viral-worthy designs - think bronzes that dance on TikTok or pandas doubling as cuisine ambassadors.
"We're building cultural bridges," says Zhou, whose anime merch background fuels his mission. "Each piece must spark joy while carrying centuries of wisdom - not as museum artifacts, but as everyday treasures that Gen Z wants to collect."