Peking University, February 10, 2022: On 6 February afternoon, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Albert II, Prince of Monaco at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. President Xi said: "I heard that this time you will be bringing back a Bing Dwen Dwen for your children. Since you have twins, you would need two. Do choose a pair of Bing Dwen Dwen that you like for your children as blessings from us. Hopefully, they will be interested in winter sports just as you did and achieved in this arena.” In response, Prince Albert II expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

On 5 February, the day before, Prince Albert II in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing was excited to experience dough sculpting. The volunteer who helped him knead the Bing Dwen Dwen dough was Lang Jiaziyu – not only a third-generation inheritor of “Mian Ren Lang” (Lang Dough Figurines), which is classified as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage item, but also a PKU School of Arts alumnus.

Thereafter on the same day, before the welcome banquet commenced, Prince Albert II came to Lang’s booth on dough figurine, and picked up the dough figurines for closer examination. Lang introduced him to the Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, and invited him to place a white dough highlight on the eyes as the finishing touch of this figurine.

After learning that this Bing Dwen Dwen is a gift for him, he asked Lang to make another one as he is a father to a pair of twins, therefore “it would be hard for him if he only brought back one”. Upon this video’s release onto the web, netizens regarded Bing Dwen Dwen as a national favourite.

Dough-made Bing Dwen Dwen

In a Bing Dwen Dwen tutorial video, Lang could be seen rolling, pressing and kneading the dough. Momentarily, an adorable Bing Dwen Dwen is sculpted out of an ordinary dough.


The dough-made Bing Dwen Dwen do not have a transparent crystal-like cover, but the 3-4 centimetre miniature size demands huge depth of craft and skill: the colour combination, details, and the rainbow-like lines on the face. Additionally, to let the heads of state from other countries to have a better experience and interaction within a short amount of time, Lang chose to sculpt figurines of Bing Dwen Dwen on-spot.


Aside from the interactions with Monaco’s Prince Albert II, Lang recalled that IOC President Thomas Bach left him a deep impression. Bach sculpted Bing Dwen Dwen with them, expressing his adoration and love for the mascot, and disclosing that Bing Dwen Dwen was unanimously approved in the mascot discussion in an extremely short amount of time. Lang is delighted that the Chinese culture is gaining more popularity across the globe.

A happy surprise

In the interview, Lang said that it was a ‘surprise’ for him to be deeply involved in the Winter Olympics. He was honoured to present the Chinese “Mian Ren Lang” to the world in this way, as well as to work with others to create a Chinese New Year atmosphere in the Winter Olympics. He is immensely proud of Chinese culture, and hopes that this event will exhibit the charisma of traditional art and the return of Chinese youths to their own culture on the world stage.


In the packed Great Hall of the People, Lang showed the heads of state the most representative traditional Chinese culture and heritage works – including traditional Peking Opera characters, some scenes from old Beijing, and "Fu Lu Shou" (3 lucky star gods representing happiness, prosperity and longevity respectively) which carries the best wishes to the Chinese.

A craftsmen family’s legacy

Lang’s grandfather and father have also performed dough sculpture to the heads of state at diplomatic events before. His grandfather was the founder of "Mian Ren Lang", and presented his dough figurines to Cambodia’s former King Norodom Sihanouk. Similarly, his father, a senior craftsman, also had a cultural exchange with the Prince of Monaco. Lang felt extremely honoured to participate in this event, as it is a special connection with his family.

In the exhibition, Lang also received a lot of artistic recognition and appreciation for the "Mian Ren Lang" and its creativity. Many foreign heads of state displayed great interest in his work.

To him, their praises for his work also represent their respect for traditional Chinese culture. This made Lang feel encouraged to persist in the passing-on of the intangible cultural heritage “Mian Ren Lang” legacy for the years to come.

Written by: Vissly Chan Shun Ling
Edited by: June Tan Rui Min
Source: PKU Youth League (Chinese)