Experience economy represents shift to emotional value

A navy-style hat, a beige coat and a pair of wideleg jeans might look like the makings of a casual weekend outfit. On Li Han's desk, however, the ensemble was being carefully styled on a palm-sized doll.

Li, a 24-year-old college student in Beijing, had just returned from a doll exhibition, bringing home miniature dresses, handmade hats and a lighted retro-style display cabinet. Piece by piece, she arranged them on her desk, creating a miniature scene for her doll — and a quiet break from her busy routine.

"I've always had a soft spot for handmade pieces," she said.

For Li, dressing her doll and setting up a tiny home for it offers a quiet pause from the rush of daily life. "Each piece carries the maker's thought and care. Some are one of a kind, which makes them feel even more special."

The miniature dresses, handmade hats and miniature furniture on Li's desk reflect the rising popularity of doll outfits and accessories. Designed specifically for dolls, the outfits range from everyday wear to traditional Chinese styles such as the mamianqun (horse face skirt), and qipao, also known as cheongsam, as well as costumes inspired by China's ethnic groups and designs referencing intangible cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, in Xiangyang, a city in Hubei province, power employee Liu Sisi has invited a group of clients to visit an intelligent monitoring hall of State Grid Xiangyang, where a humanoid robot equipped with 43 flexible joints monitors screens with unwavering focus.

Operating 24/7 without interruption at the Jiangbei control center, it captures real-time data from 96 substations, serving as an "AI guardian" for the city's power grid.

The visitors were amazed that the Unitree G1 robot — the first humanoid power-grid monitoring robot in the State Grid Hubei electric power system — marked an innovative breakthrough in human-machine collaboration in grid monitoring.

"We are not only showcasing technology, but also exploring the experience economy in energy services," said Liu, a deputy team leader at the Jiangbei power station.

This is just the tip of the experience economy.

Back to Li's case, as China's designer toy market continues to expand, doll outfits are carving out a growing market of their own. Once a niche hobby, doll styling is gaining traction among young consumers like Li, who see it not only as a form of self-expression, but also as an enjoyable hands-on way to unwind from study, work and busy schedules.

The trend has gathered momentum across China over the past year, with doll exhibitions spreading to more major cities. The NICE Mini World Doll Expo — a touring exhibition that has drawn a growing following among doll enthusiasts — is expected to stage about 20 shows across China this year, organizers said.

Having just returned from a doll exhibition, Li said the growing crowd was hard to miss.

"There were long lines at many of the popular booths, and most visitors were young people around my age," she said.