Last year, when Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan visited the Imperial College London, a professor at the university gave the Chinese First Lady a shawl in a white box. The shawl must have been exquisite, as the normally graceful Peng responded with a jaw-dropping expression.

https://twitter.com/breakingnews_90/status/656860724707332096

The amusing picture sparked a Photoshop frenzy on social networking site Reddit. Netizens let their imagination fly as they replaced the white box with everything from futuristic sneakers to doughnuts.

Peng Liyun receives Nike Air Mag Power Laces from Back to the Future as gift
Peng Liyun receives Nike Air Mag Power Laces from Back to the Future as gift. Photo: alexbm521, via Reddit.
Peng Liyuan receives classified information as gift
Peng Liyuan receives classified information as gift. Photo: randy06 via Reddit
Peng Liyuan receives doughnuts as gift
Peng Liyuan receives doughnuts as gift. Photo: phirleh via Reddit.
Peng Liyuan receives XBox as gift
Peng Liyuan receives an xbox as gift. Photo: CyberScorpion0 via Reddit.
Peng Li yuan with giant battery
Peng Liyuan receives 1.21 Gigawatts of electricity as gift. Photo: vauvau via Reddit.
Peng Liyuan with Chicken
Peng Liyuan confused by a chicken. Photo: MandrewTheMage via Reddit.
Peng Liyuan photoshopped onto woman with a child
Peng Liyuan sitting holding a baby. Photo: Cha72 via Reddit.
Peng Liyuan and biblical evolution
Morphing into Peng Liyuan. Photo: dolphinmx via Reddit.

According to Chinese media, printed on the shawl was a unique pattern generated by a computer which “analysed 700 photos of Peng.”

Support HKFP  |  Policies & Ethics  |  Error/typo?  |  Contact Us  |  Newsletter  | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps

Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team

HK$
HK$

Members of HK$150/month unlock 8 benefits: An HKFP deer keyring or tote; exclusive Tim Hamlett columns; feature previews; merch drops/discounts; "behind the scenes" insights; a chance to join newsroom Q&As, early access to our Annual/Transparency Report & all third-party banner ads disabled.

The Trust Project HKFP
Journalist Trust Initiative HKFP
Society of Publishers in Asia
International Press Institute
Oxfam Living Wage Employer
Google Play hkfp
hkfp app Apple
hkfp payment methods
YouTube video
YouTube video

Chantal Yuen is a Hong Kong journalist interested in issues dealing with religion and immigration. She majored in German and minored in Middle Eastern studies at Princeton University.