Cruiser Elite
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2010
- Posts
- 14,480
Lifted directly from GICexpat thread in WeChat Official Accounts:
Chinese Influencer Sold “Wish Candles” for Up to ¥7,888 and Made ¥50 Million — Then She Was Arrested
In China, some young people are paying steep prices for “wish candles” sold by social media influencers, hoping to rekindle romance, improve their fortunes, or change their lives.
One prominent influencer, Li Zhuofan, gained more than 600,000 followers on Chinese social media after appearing on the Russian reality show The Battle of Psychics.On the show, she used a candle to “locate” a person hidden in a car boot and claimed she could sense that someone had once died in another vehicle.
After returning to China, Li began selling handmade wish candles online.Decorated with crystals, dried flowers and infused with essential oils, the candles were promoted as having different magical functions — from boosting careers and wealth to helping win back an ex-partner.
Prices started at ¥2,888 (US$420), while a “triple luck” version cost as much as ¥7,888.
Li also assembled a team to create videos that strengthened her image as a psychic, and sold online fortune-telling courses alongside the candles.
One customer paid ¥5,888 hoping the candle would attract more customers to their business. When nothing changed, they reported Li to the police.
According to Hongxing News, Li was later arrested on suspicion of fraud. Prosecutors allege she earned more than ¥50 million (US$7 million) from selling the wish candles and related psychic courses.
Under Chinese criminal law, fraud involving an especially large sum can lead to fixed-term imprisonment of more than ten years, in addition to fines and confiscation of property.
Despite the case being exposed, posts and shopping links for wish candles remain widespread on social media.
One netizen commented: “After I lit a love candle, my ex-boyfriend really started clinging to me. I couldn’t shake him off”. Others advised buyers to observe how long a candle burns and how the flame moves, claiming this could reveal whether a partner is cheating.
The wish candle craze is part of a booming “metaphysical economy” in China, which includes crystals, tarot readings and a growing range of products sold as forms of spiritual comfort.
Much of the industry is rebranded for young people under intense pressure, with sellers using livestreaming, social media and even artificial intelligence to promote their products.
Chinese Influencer Sold “Wish Candles” for Up to ¥7,888 and Made ¥50 Million — Then She Was Arrested
In China, some young people are paying steep prices for “wish candles” sold by social media influencers, hoping to rekindle romance, improve their fortunes, or change their lives.
One prominent influencer, Li Zhuofan, gained more than 600,000 followers on Chinese social media after appearing on the Russian reality show The Battle of Psychics.On the show, she used a candle to “locate” a person hidden in a car boot and claimed she could sense that someone had once died in another vehicle.
After returning to China, Li began selling handmade wish candles online.Decorated with crystals, dried flowers and infused with essential oils, the candles were promoted as having different magical functions — from boosting careers and wealth to helping win back an ex-partner.
Prices started at ¥2,888 (US$420), while a “triple luck” version cost as much as ¥7,888.
Li also assembled a team to create videos that strengthened her image as a psychic, and sold online fortune-telling courses alongside the candles.
One customer paid ¥5,888 hoping the candle would attract more customers to their business. When nothing changed, they reported Li to the police.
According to Hongxing News, Li was later arrested on suspicion of fraud. Prosecutors allege she earned more than ¥50 million (US$7 million) from selling the wish candles and related psychic courses.
Under Chinese criminal law, fraud involving an especially large sum can lead to fixed-term imprisonment of more than ten years, in addition to fines and confiscation of property.
Despite the case being exposed, posts and shopping links for wish candles remain widespread on social media.
One netizen commented: “After I lit a love candle, my ex-boyfriend really started clinging to me. I couldn’t shake him off”. Others advised buyers to observe how long a candle burns and how the flame moves, claiming this could reveal whether a partner is cheating.
The wish candle craze is part of a booming “metaphysical economy” in China, which includes crystals, tarot readings and a growing range of products sold as forms of spiritual comfort.
Much of the industry is rebranded for young people under intense pressure, with sellers using livestreaming, social media and even artificial intelligence to promote their products.
