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Jeremy Blum

The giant rubber duck that enchanted audiences at Beijing’s Summer Palace for the last two months made its official exit on October 27 after bringing the city more than 100 million yuan (HK$ 127 million) in revenue.
Nearly 70,000 visitors appeared on the day to bid goodbye to the duck, which began its deflation around 6 PM, Chinese news portal Morning Post reported.

Among the visitors saying farewell were numerous schoolchildren, who were reportedly very dismayed to see their large yellow friend deflated.
“I did not expect to learn that today was the duck’s last day,” a concerned mother surnamed Wu told reporters. “[As soon as] my daughter took a look at the deflated duck she started to cry.”
Workers at Beijing’s Summer Palace confirmed that deflation of the duck would be an overnight process, and removing the base surrounding the duck was “not as easy as it looked” and would take the longest amount of time.
The 18-metre-tall rubber duck has been a tremendous moneymaker for Beijing, and has helped the Summer Palace bring in over 100 million yuan through visitor fees and the selling of duck-related products, Xinhua reported.
Originally designed as a playful urban sculpture by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, the giant rubber duck has been exhibited in various locations across the globe, including Hong Kong and Taiwan’s Keelung city. The duck’s appearance in Beijing was much anticipated after the floating fowl enjoyed a healthy reception in Hong Kong from May to June.
Beijing’s version of the duck was not without its critics. Many claimed that the 100 yuan (HK$ 126) fee required to see the sculpture was too expensive, especially when previous displays of the duck in other cities had been free.
Others pointed out that Beijing’s duck looked surprisingly chicken-like, especially when compared to its Hong Kong counterpart, and had a beak that seemed to have been sewed on incorrectly.
Generally, however, the duck was a monetary success, and a spokesperson for Beijing’s Design Week Organising Committee, which oversaw the project, reportedly said that officials were “very pleased to have had such a great big yellow duck as a city attraction.”


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Rubber Duck

Giant rubber duck bids Beijing adieu after bringing in over HK$127m

The rubber duck (and its smaller toy counterparts) was an especially big hit with children. Photo: Chinanews.com

Officials estimated that nearly 70,000 visitors appeared at the Summer Palace to say goodbye to the duck. Photo: Chinanews.com

Many were dismayed to see the duck deflated. Photo: Screenshot via Morning Post

Pictured: Giant rubber duck arrives in Beijing

Screenshot via Sina Weibo.

Women prepare to take a souvenir photo of a child in front of a 7-metre high rubber duck at the Nanhaizi Country Park in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: AP

Rubber Duck not all it's quacked up to be as Beijingers bemoan entrance fee

Security guards try to prevent photographers taking pictures of the inflated rubber duck created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Visitors view the giant rubber duck on a lake at the Garden Expo Park in Beijing on Sunday. The artwork created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is expected to be on display until October. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong team questions production quality of Beijing Rubber Duck

The Beijing Rubber Duck (left) has a narrower beak than the Hong Kong duck. Photo: SCMP Pictures

News

China Insider

The floating sculpture was a huge money maker for the city and drew thousands of visitors
