Dolls usually strike people as toys for little girls. However, many female Beijing white-collars in their twenties have shown great interest in collecting dolls. In the eyes of these collectors, dolls are no longer ordinary toys but objects endowed with new lives. They fondly call themselves "dads and moms of the dolls."

These "fathers and mothers" not only make or purchase clothes for their "children," but also hold occasional parties for them. Doll fans can also seize these opportunities to show off their collections.

These doll aficionado collect quite expensive human-shape dolls of various types, such as BJD, PULLIP, BLYTHE and MOMOKO, rather than the traditional Barbies. These collectibles can sell as high as 20,000 yuan (US$2,500) each, with the cheapest ones going for 400 to 500 yuan. These dolls are hard to find on domestic markets.

27-year-old Li Jing told the reporter that she has a cabinet reserved for dolls "kept" by her husband and her. They own five PULLIPs, three BLYTHEs, four MOMOKOs and five soldiers.

Li said that because she is involved in educating young children, she is particularly fond of children and this probably contributes most to her "doll raising" hobby. Since they began keeping dolls, Li and her husband have spent 7,000 to 8,000 yuan on them. "This is only for buying them and excludes other extra spending," said Li.

Because outfits for dolls are too pricy, Li personally stitched the fashionable dresses for her beloved. "What's more, self-designed clothes are beautiful," added Li.
 
(China News Service June 22, 2006)