Two Doraemon fans pose for pictures in their themed T-shirts. The 100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets Expo is being held at Beijng's Chaoyang Joy City shopping mall. Photo taken April 19, 2014. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/William Wang]

Doraemon, the robotic cat, has amassed a legion of devotees since his inception in the late 1960s. The Japanese character has a special "fourth dimensional pocket" from which magical gadgets and tools from the future can be produced. The expo at the Chaoyang Joy City shopping mall, had 100 Doraemons each showcasing one surprise or another.

The queue to buy tickets was a long one, considering that the expo itself was just a collection of virtually identical Doraemon effigies. This one contains a tube of toothpaste; that one has a pair of yellow gloves.

"I used to watch lots of Doraemon when I was a kid," admitted Tao Nuan, who was accompanying his wife to the exhibit, whilst holding a large Doraemon stuffed doll in his arms. "I'd like to take more pictures of the Doraemons, but there's too many people."

Six-year-old Kong Lingao, was really enjoying the expo: "It's my first time seeing Doraemon outside!" he exclaimed. "And I got some presents."

The expo is a short one. It opened on Saturday, and wraps up on Tuesday. In addition to the Doraemon expo, which requires a ticket, a number of Doraemon exhibits are on display on the many floors of Joy City. The uninitiated may be curious as to why so many people find the displays photo-worthy: the pink door is only a pink door to those unfamiliar with the "anywhere door" that can take you to any place or time you desire.

Many people would be happy to step through the anywhere door to arrive at the front of the line to buy Doraemon merchandise.

Expo entrance fee: 50 yuan.

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