A new craft trend has China's Gen Z lining up: Perler beads. Also known as fuse beads, Perler beads are made from colorful plastic that are laid out on a template and fused with heat into a fixed design.
Spending on Perler bead activities during the Spring Festival holiday in early February surged by 9,018 percent year-on-year, according to a 2026 report by Douyin Life Services, the short-video platform's local commerce division.
Compared with other crafts such as pottery and knitting, Perler beads are among the easiest to pick up. But many young people say it's the required focus and tangible satisfaction that keeps drawing them to the bead table.
"When I arrange Perler beads, I put down my phone, block out distractions and focus on just one thing," Xi Xi, a young woman from Beijing, told people.cn. "At first, I thought it was simply about arranging beads, but once I started, I couldn't stop. Turning these tiny beads into a complete pattern gives me a strong sense of accomplishment. And when you concentrate on one thing, the anxiety gradually fades away."
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