Chinese Kung Fu charms Silicon Valley
Tranquil Yankou ancient town
Lake Geneva: A show of swans
Beautiful sunset over the Irtysh River
Qingjing Mosque: Witness of the ancient Maritime Silk Road
Neiliansheng – more than 100 years of fashion
Golden retriever feeds baby African lions
Strange rocks in Lama Mountain
First overseas "China-standard" electric railway laid
College graduate launches organic agricultural cooperative in hometownChildren drive battery-powered toy cars at an international toy and animation exposition in Beijing. Electronic toys accounted for 20 percent of toy sales in China last year, according to a report by Euromonitor International. Zhao Bing / for China Daily
Leading international toymakers are also stepping into this market niche. Hasbro's Furby, a toy that has been around since 1998, was one of the best-sellers last Christmas. The owl-like robotic figure has a new incarnation, with more expressive LCD eyes and even its own Apple and Android apps. The updates were developed to add another dimension of interactivity, taking into account that many youngsters now spend as much time on tablets as they do running around.
The tech trend was evident at this year's Hong Kong Toy Fair, one of the industry's biggest happenings.
The Smart-Tech Toys zone was a hit. Even traditional toys in the zone had been upgraded into smart devices with app functions. Some of the most popular displayed items were iPhone-powered stuffed animals, virtual pet rabbits and gaming computers for kindergartners.
One smart toy that attracted particular interest was Apps1010's new product, which uses an iTunes app to scan a toy and then converts the 2-D image into a 3-D cartoon.
With this, parents and kids interact and jointly produce something, rather than just passively watch the screen or play on their own, the company's CEO Winston Chiu said.
The fair also revealed that electronic toys are designed with parents in mind, too. This reflects such social trends as declining birth rates. And it counts on the number of adults in touch with their inner child.
Shanghai video game designer Xu Haobo adores toys. Xu owns a collection, ranging from Legos to myriad electronic planes and cars.
"I'm often ridiculed for this," the 32-year-old said, laughing.
"Sometimes, I talk to my toys. But I'm fine with it. It's a good way to relax and find inner peace. Children are usually carefree. Why can't adults live the same way?"
But some parents believe electronic toys may be less popular among children.
![]() | ![]() |
Opening ceremony of 67th Cannes Film Festival
Pulse of Xiamen - Int'l Yoga art festival in May
Photo story: Life of a scrap metal recycle worker
Training of the PLA's first female honor guard
China's 10 must-see animations
Female bodybuilders show their beauty of fitness
A taste of Harbin cuisine
A bite of Jiang Nan
Who is China's campus beauty queen?
8 great movies to watch with your mom
China's most luminous celebrities
Newly recruited police in Hetian hold drill
Bird-men compete flying in Hong Kong
The 'Chinese Dad'
Shanghai locals bid farewell to childhood memoriesDay|Week|Month