Creative thinking benefits Shanghai & HK

Hong Kong's duck mania sparks interest in innovative marketing

Fang Jinqi, a well-off 32-year-old real estate agent from Shanghai, goes to Hong Kong at least once a month to stock up on the latest fashion and savor the finest Cantonese food served at eateries known only to connoisseurs.

But this month, she is going not so much for the food or shopping but to take a good look at the giant rubber duck that has mesmerized and fascinated so many locals as well as tourists.

"Yes", she admitted, "it's for the duck this time" - but she's not the only fan of the three-story tall creation of Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, that has been the star of the Hong Kong harbor in recent months.

The strong demand for harbor-view rooms in Hong Kong hotels is testament to the flood of duck-loving tourists from the mainland and elsewhere coming to Hong Kong to view Hofman's work.

The duck mania has even earned an honorable mention from Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

At the 2nd Annual Urban Land Institute Asia Pacific Summit in Shanghai earlier this month, Leung said that the giant duck has proved the economic value and importance of successful creative ideas, which can help to boost tourism, catering, retail and many other industries.