Nail art with patterns similar to Bing Dwen Dwen Photo: courtesy of Zhi Love nail art shop

While people are anxiously waiting for more Bing Dwen Dwen merchandise to hit the market, some have already made an appointment with their local manicurist to get their nails painted with pandas similar to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games mascot.

A manicurist surnamed Yu at a nail art shop in Xidan, a commercial zone in downtown Beijing, told the Global Times that nail art with Bing Dwen Dwen-like pandas and Olympic rings have gone viral.

"We are fully booked for this weekend and all weeknights. You can make an appointment at noon next Tuesday at the earliest," said Yu on Wednesday. 

The price for having two pandas, four five rings and snow and ice background is as high as 458 yuan ($72).

"You have to be patient enough because the patterns are complicated and requires at least two hours," said Yu.

Following the Bing Dwen Dwen craze after the launch of the Beijing Olympics, fans are looking for substitutes to express their fond feeling about the mascot.

The reason that nail design stood out from all substitutions should be attributed to the athletes who showcased their nail art.

Some athletes from South Korea displayed their nails with Bing Dwen Dwen patterns in a video posted by the CCTV, China's state broadcaster, on Tuesday, when they shop Bing Dwen Dwen products at the Olympic Village. 

A screenshot of CCTV video of athlete showing nail art with patterns of Bing Dwen Dwen

Gu Ailing, for example, was found to have Olympic rings painted on her nails during her gold medal prize-awarding ceremony on Tuesday. 

Norwegian athlete Birk Ruud also showed his nails with colors of Norway national flag after his tricks claimed a gold for men's freestyle skiing big air event on Wednesday.

Many manicurists have posted videos teaching netizens how to make a nail art with the panda similar to Bing Dwen Dwen.

Netizens commented that now the pressure is transferred to manicurists from factories, who are now in full swing producing Bing Dwen Dwen related merchandise.

Global Times