China’s Ugly Products Exhibition Features 300+ Bizarre Taobao Items

'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' in Hangzhou, China August 13, 2025
Reuters

The weirdest and most ugliest products sold online in China can be seen in a new exhibition in Hangzhou.

Called 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' the gallery shows around 300 items including sandals inspired by cabbage leaves to a tower of misshapen cat pillows.  

Products available for sale online in China from late July to mid-August. It was initiated by multinational technology company Alibaba (9988.HK) e-commerce giant Taobao.

'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' in Hangzhou, China August 13, 2025.
Reuters
Reuters

Earlier Reuters reported that, It has been won or been shortlisted for the platform’s annual Ugly Stuff Competition, also known as the Uglies Award, reported by Reuters.

Over 3,000 visitors a day have visited the exhibition from late July to mid-August, said Yu Hu, project lead for the Uglies Award. 

Younger consumers are boosting the popularity of these unappealing products because they want to express their individuality, Yu added.

He said that "In recent years, emotional consumption has become more and more of a 'blue ocean', meaning it’s becoming increasingly popular, turning into a new (spending) track".

Ugly-cute accessory doll, Labubu is a well-known example of this phenomenon even winning celebrity fans including Rihanna and David Becham.

Meanwhile, some visitors viewed the exibition as reflection on what beauty is, other saw it as a sowcase of creatice expression.

"Ugliness is another form of beauty", said the exihibiton visitor Mei Duo, 55.

"There's so much creativity, (it's) a special type of beauty".

Tags