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Fuwa powered
Olympic mascot sellers (from left) with the Fuwas: Xiao Xu (Bei Bei), Tian Tian (Jing Jing), Li Ming (Huan Huan), Yan Yan (Ying Ying), and Wen Wen (Ni Ni).
Photo: Debbie Mason
At the front door of one of Beijing's most notorious fakes market, Yaxiu, is a small shop that sells genuine Olympics merchandise. It's tiny but is stuffed with everything from fridge magnets to chopsticks and T shirts, all served up by five sales assistants each representing their particular chosen fuwa. The orange fuwa, Ying Ying, for a Tibetan antelope, spoke to us. Her real name is Yan Yan.
This is a tiny shop. Does it really need five of you?
There are five fuwa, so yes it does.
Do you know what the five fuwa stand for?
Of course! Bei Bei is the fish, Jing Jing the panda, Huan Huan the torch, Ying Ying, the antelope, and Ni Ni is a bird.
Are you all from Beijing?
No, we are all from outside Beijing. We are all from northern China.
Does the Olympics mean as much to you as it does to Beijingers?
We are from outside Beijing, not outside China. We are all Chinese, it means a lot to every Chinese, no matter where they are from. We are all very proud of our country. It's the best thing to happen for years. These are the Chinese Olympics, not just the Beijing Olympics.
How did you find this job?
It was advertised. We were all doing different things before. We saw the advert and applied and we were selected. By doing this job we are also doing something for the Olympics.
What will you do after the Olympics? Presumably this shop will close?
Our boss has promised to find us all work after the Games.
Are the fuwa popular?
Oh yes, with locals and more and more foreigners now. They are really cute and sell very well. Everything does. The shop is getting busier and busier.
Are your products the real thing?
Of course! The government is really strict about faking the Olympics stuff. I don't think you'll find any fake fuwa anywhere in Beijing.
Funny that you are selling them right outside one of the biggest fakes market in the city.
Hmm, yes!
Do you think the atmosphere in Beijing is changing as the Games get nearer?
Yes, it's definitely getting more exciting. You can sense it in the air, the atmosphere is getting really tense, but good. Everyone is looking forward to these exciting Games. Look how much the city has changed.
Do any of you have tickets to go and see the Games?
No, but we all wish we could. Anyway we will be working when the Games are on and don't think we will get time. All five of us have to be here most of the time. Maybe I will get a ticket to see some of the Paralympic Games.
Don't you ever get days off?
Very rarely. We take it in turns, maybe once or twice a month.
Do you get tired?
No, we have the fuwa.