By Jin Yuhan

Recently, a pop-up fair was held by the Palace Museum at the Hi5 mall in Yuyao, Ningbo, showcasing over 350 types of merchandise inspired by the Forbidden City: notebooks, sachets, bracelets, and more. The event drew crowds eager to browse and shop for these heritage-themed items.

Notably, 80 percent of the products on display came from a small-town business, Ningbo Sunian Crafts Co., Ltd., based in Mazhu Town, Yuyao. How did a seemingly unremarkable small company become a supplier to one of China's most prestigious cultural institutions?

Zhang Chong, the founder of Sunian, hails from Mazhu Town. In 2010, she started her business in Yiwu, the world's largest small commodities wholesale market, selling craft items.

"Yiwu offers infinite opportunities, but the market is too homogenous. I believe tapping into traditional Chinese culture is the best way to stand out," she said.

Her breakthrough came with a silk mouse pad, which became a bestseller in China and eventually drew international interest. This success proved that Chinese culture-inspired merchandise could be both profitable and a means of sharing heritage globally.

As Yuyao's logistics network expanded, Zhang moved her business from Yiwu to her hometown in 2016, establishing Ningbo Sunian Crafts Co., Ltd. to focus on designing and producing her own craft items.

In 2023, Sunian secured its place in the Palace Museum's supply chain with the launch of a notebook set titled "Palace Cats Through the Four Seasons". Inspired by the Forbidden City's famous resident cats and its breathtaking seasonal sights, the set features four distinct designs. The notebooks became a hit, with over 40,000 sets sold to date.

That same year, as Harbin's tourism boom drove demand for souvenir refrigerator magnets, Sunian tapped into the magnet market. The company turned imperial dragon robes, phoenix coronets, famous paintings, and other items from the Imperial Palace's collection into intricately designed magnets. These miniaturized works of art allow travelers to take home a piece of China's rich artistic heritage.

"We will continue to design products that blend legacy with modern appeal, revitalizing traditional culture for a new era and expanding its global reach," Zhang said.