BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A huge rubber duck has ignited a yellow frenzy in Beijing even before its arrival, with dozens of its feathered brethren appearing in a lake that aspires to be its swimming pool.
More than 30 yellow duck dolls have bedecked the wharves and pleasure boats in Shichahai park since Tuesday, as the park vied with other Beijing waters for hosting the oversized bath toy.
"We hope the presence of the 'small yellow ducks' will attract the 'big yellow duck' to swim here," a boat ticket seller in the park told Xinhua.
Created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, the giant rubber duck is expected to visit Beijing in September after making a splash in Hong Kong. During its one-month visit in Victoria Harbor, it attracted 8 million tourists and even triggered widespread whine after it was temporarily deflated for maintenance on May 14.
News of its arrival has elated Beijingers, who jokingly said online that they would welcome the giant fowl with sweet bean sauce and onions, seasonings that go with the famous Peking duck.
On Friday, tourists in the park were seen hugging the smaller duck dolls as they took boat trips around the lake, which boasts a large expanse of lotus and many waterfront pubs.
A mother surnamed Yan was seen negotiating with the park staff whether the ducks could be sold at a price, as her 5-year-old son could not be separated from the stuffed toy lying on a lake-side bench.
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