On the night of the Qixi Festival, Chinese Valentine’s Day, which fell on August 22 this year, Yao Xiaofang, a 71-year-old pearl wholesaler, livestreamed until midnight, later than usual. She did so because of the extraordinary enthusiasm of her viewers. With the username Pearl Grandma on video-sharing platform Douyin, China’s TikTok, she has more than 1 million fans and has gained popularity online for her profound knowledge of pearls.
Pearls, once regarded as jewels for older generations, have unexpectedly become popular among young people in China in recent years.
“I am fascinated by pearls,” a young woman from Beijing surnamed Wang told . She further divulged she had bought three pearl necklaces and a pair of pearl earrings on one day in June at a
