What began as a personal interest gradually became something she wanted to share with others. She now sells the toy through livestreams, too.

One student customer bought 22 pieces — not all at once, but one by one after each livestream demonstration.

"For many students, comfort doesn't come from expensive bags or gadgets," Zhouzhou said. "Unlike adults who save up for a big purchase, students see these stress-relief toys as little indulgences."

According to China Youth Daily, more than 1 million units had been sold in China by the 2026 Spring Festival after the toy was launched in March 2025.

Tradition brings comfort

While trendy stress-relief toys dominate e-commerce today, the desire for comfort through touch is far from new. Throughout many generations, people have turned to small objects to create moments of quiet reflection.

The history of Chinese bottle gourds can be traced back to ancient times, when they were cherished for their symbolic meanings of harmony and prosperity. Over the centuries, gourds evolved from ritual vessels to handheld companions.

Now, these old objects have sparked a new fervor among young people. Li Yajuan is one of them.

After work, Li picks several gourds from her collection, places them on a tray, and rubs them while watching TV. She carries one during her commute and takes one to doctor's appointments. She also kept one close during a recent hospital stay when she felt frightened and alone.

Working in e-commerce and design, she first bought gourds for a design project. The hobby soon replaced drawing and tearing paper as her preferred stress relief. Since autumn 2 0 2 4, she has spent more than 100,000 yuan ($14,703) building her collection.

"Playing with gourds is about calming your mind and accepting the process, along with whatever changes happen naturally, whether they occur in a day or over the course of a year," she said. Some gourds can be polished quickly, while others require weeks of sun exposure.