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Singapore's Durian Star unveiled for Shanghai audiences
Singapore's Shanghai 2010 World Expo mascot, the Durian Star (Liu Lian Xiao Xing ), makes Shanghailanders that much happier that we have Haibao
According to the Singapore Tourism Board, Durian Star was inspired by the Merlion and the durian fruit (which the Esplanade theaters resemble as well).Haibao, Shanghai’s Gumby-eque Shanghai 2010 World Expo mascot, has taken his fair share of punches since his release, but with the unveiling of Singapore's Expo mascot the Durian Star (榴莲小星), we’re happy to call Haibao ours.
CNNGo Singapore editor Larry Loh explains how Singapore's mascot came about: “According to the Singapore Tourism Board, [Durian Star] was inspired by the Merlion and the durian fruit (which the Esplanade theaters resemble as well). The back story is that he's a ‘five-year-old Singaporean boy who travels around the world with his parents, who are well respected musicians, and is nuts about durians which are not readily available in some of the places they travel to.’ He wears red overalls emblazoned with a picture of the Merlion in homage to his favorite toy -- a Merlion beanie he cuddles to sleep every night -- and a durian-shaped cap.”
As more and more mascots are announced (see Shanghaiist's coverage of Taiwan's mascot and Austrailian's mascot), Haibao keeps looking better and better. The little blue guy might be growing on us.We’ll admit that the online rendering of the Durian Star far superior to the live version, but with months to go until the Expo, couldn’t they have waited a bit and found Haibao a better playmate?
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