In the ever-changing world of cross-border e-commerce, the formula for creating viral products has always been the same: culture + novelty + supply chain speed.
In 2024, something unexpected happened. A forgotten ancient Chinese text called Shanhaijing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas) suddenly exploded on TikTok, YouTube, and Xiaohongshu.
But the real twist? It wasn’t the classical depictions of dragons or phoenixes that went viral. It was a wave of AI-generated, meme-like monsters: a stiff “Stick Man,” a ridiculous “Nike Shark with human legs,” a wobbly “One-Eyed Monster.” They were absurd, funny, and strangely addictive—perfect for the internet.
Very quickly, these bizarre icons were transformed into blind box toys, plushies, cards, and collectibles. And just like that, a 2,000-year-old book became the foundation of the next global cyberpunk mythology brand.
The Shanhaijing is one of China’s oldest mythological texts, dating back over 2,000 years. It catalogues hundreds of mythical creatures, strange lands, and cosmological visions. For centuries, it was considered esoteric, but today it provides a treasure chest of monsters ready for meme cultur
The viral designs are not polished fantasy art. Instead, they embrace the “AI weirdness” aesthetic:
stiff stick figures,
sharks with sneakers,
asymmetrical monsters.
This glitchy, uncanny style spreads faster than traditional beauty—it is funny, strange, and memeable.
On TikTok, a 10-second unboxing video featuring a “Nike Shark Blind Box” can hit millions of views. People chase curiosity and surprise, not perfection.
In the West, blind boxes and collectible cards are already a huge industry. Now, with “AI Shanhaijing,” global consumers get something they haven’t seen before: Eastern mythology reimagined through meme culture.
Here are some of the characters that have already taken over TikTok and global marketplaces:
Stick Man (Tung Tung): stiff, awkward, wandering like a lost NPC.
Nike Shark (Tralalero Shark): a big-mouthed shark with human legs in sneakers—absurd, yet unforgettable.
One-Eyed Monster (Onleid): eerie, glowing central eye, asymmetry that screams “AI-generated.”
Vermilion Bird (Zhuque): fiery phoenix-like creature, wings trailing flames.
Azure Dragon (Qinglong): a twisted, uncanny dragon soaring in the clouds.
White Tiger (Baihu): in tradition, a sacred beast of war. In meme culture, reimagined as a cybernetic tiger with glowing stripes and a chainsaw tail.
What makes “AI Shanhaijing” so unique is the collision of Eastern mysticism and modern absurdity.
To understand the hype, you need to know about the Four Symbols (四象) of Chinese cosmology:
Azure Dragon (Qinglong): Guardian of the East, symbolizing spring.
Vermilion Bird (Zhuque): Guardian of the South, symbolizing summer and fire.
White Tiger (Baihu): Guardian of the West, symbolizing autumn and war.
Black Tortoise (Xuanwu): Guardian of the North, symbolizing winter and water.
In traditional Chinese culture, these divine beasts are solemn, sacred, and cosmic.
In AI meme culture, they become distorted, funny, even cyberpunk. This cultural remix is exactly what makes them attractive to a global audience used to Marvel superheroes and Japanese anime. For the first time, Eastern mythological beasts are becoming viral internet IPs.
For manufacturers and brands, the opportunity lies in rapidly converting meme icons into physical products. At Holidaypac, we’ve mapped out five key product directions:
Core format: Stick Man, Nike Shark, One-Eyed Monster.
Surprise, repetition, collection—perfect for TikTok unboxing culture.
Paper packaging with eco-friendly materials adds value.
Shanhaijing creatures turned into battle cards.
Can expand into booster packs and limited editions.
Flat-packed, low shipping cost.
Great for TikTok demo videos where users assemble creatures.
For high-value collectors.
Blends Eastern mythology with artistic craftsmanship.
Cross-border sellers on Amazon or Shopee need FSDUs, PDQs, and eco-friendly stands.
Holidaypac specializes in paper displays and packaging design to elevate branding.
The next stage of the “AI Shanhaijing” trend is not just reproducing ancient beasts—it’s remixing them with modern imagination:
White Tiger: neon-lit stripes, metallic armor, chainsaw tail.
Azure Dragon: scales replaced by LED panels, body wrapped in glowing circuits.
Vermilion Bird: wings like jet engines, flaming trails like rocket exhaust.
Nine-Tailed Fox: tails glow like neon tubes in a cyberpunk city.
Kui Niu (Thunder Ox): one-legged beast stomping like a subwoofer, generating shockwaves.
Yinglong (Winged Dragon): transparent glass wings refracting storms like prisms.
This era-displacement aesthetic—ancient myth meets futuristic tech—is exactly what resonates with global Gen Z buyers.
To maximize impact, we recommend a three-phase rollout strategy:
Phase 1: Entry-Level Virality
Blind boxes, Stick Man, Nike Shark.
Goal: fast TikTok spread, cheap entry price.
Phase 2: Expansion & Collection
Card games, DIY models, Zhuque & Qinglong.
Goal: mid-price products, fan culture growth.
Phase 3: Premium Collectibles
Pop-up books, Cyber White Tiger, limited-edition Yinglong.
Goal: high-margin, collector’s market, cultural authority.
One more critical point: sustainability.
Western consumers increasingly demand eco-friendly materials. Paper blind boxes and recyclable packaging are not just cheaper—they are a marketing advantage.
Holidaypac, with over 10 years of packaging expertise, provides:
FSC-certified paper packaging.
Foldable, flat-packed display stands for retailers.
Design that transforms packaging into storytelling.
What started as memes—Stick Man, Nike Shark, One-Eyed Monster—are becoming the foundation of a new global mythology brand.
This isn’t just a TikTok fad. It is the fusion of:
Ancient Chinese mythology (Shanhaijing, Four Symbols, Nine-Tailed Fox).
AI Meme Culture (weird, uncanny, viral).
Cross-Border E-commerce (blind boxes, collectibles, paper packaging).
Holidaypac is ready to help brands transform this trend into tangible products—from design, prototyping, packaging to global logistics.
The future belongs to those who can merge myth with meme, past with future, East with West.And “AI Shanhaijing” is the perfect battlefield.
SEO Keywords: AI Shanhaijing, meme monsters, blind box, loot box, cyberpunk mythology, Chinese mythology collectibles, cross-border e-commerce, Holidaypac packaging, paper blind box, eco-friendly packaging.
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