In recent days, a female pancake vendor in Chengdu, Sichuan Province has become an online sensation. Netizens have been sharing the works of this female vendor on social media platforms, showcasing her cartoon pancakes featuring characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Crayon Shin-chan, Ultraman, and more. Her pancake creations are like artwork, earning her the title of “Cartoon Pancake Master” among internet users.
In the video, the female vendor skillfully outlines the framework on the griddle using chocolate, then fills it in with ingredients like eggs and milk to create various cartoon characters that come to life. When she flips the finished pancake, the lifelike cartoon designs appear, often eliciting awe and admiration from onlookers.
According to reports from media outlets like Red Star News, the vendor, Zeng Yaxin, born in 1995, has a background in fine arts and worked in educational institutions for many years before starting her pancake business in August 2025. With her unique and difficult-to-imitate “pancake technique,” she has gained a large following within just over two months, attracting many locals and tourists.
On the evening of October 19, the cartoon pancake stall at Fuyin Night Market was once again crowded with customers. Besides those who had pre-registered for their orders, many others stopped by to take photos and check out the colorful creations.
As each pancake nears completion, numerous phones are extended in front of the stall, eager to capture the moment. Many people raise their phones high, hoping to photograph the moment when the pancake is flipped to reveal the design.
“At the beginning, I never imagined that so many people would like it,” Zeng Yaxin said. She used to teach children art in a studio but eventually felt tired of it and wanted to do something she personally enjoyed. After seeing someone making cartoon pancakes at a night market in Thailand, she thought, “I can do this too.” Upon returning, she found another job unrelated to her profession, but unhappy with it, she quit and ultimately decided to pursue the cartoon pancake business.
Currently, Zeng Yaxin sells regular and customized pancakes. The regular ones are priced at 15 and 25 yuan each, while the customized ones are priced based on the complexity of the design. Making a customized design takes at least 10 minutes for simpler patterns and up to half an hour for more intricate ones.
Zeng Yaxin’s husband, Mr. Feng, mentioned that they limit the daily orders to 60, starting from 5 pm until around midnight. Due to the long waiting times, some customers might leave before their turn, resulting in about 50 orders completed per day, with daily revenues exceeding 1,000 yuan.
In recent years, due to the economic downturn in China and the competitive job market, more and more young Chinese people struggle to find suitable employment opportunities. Lacking the capital for entrepreneurship, many are left with no choice but to resort to blue-collar jobs like food delivery, street vending, or working as ride-hailing drivers.
The video of the female vendor has garnered attention online. Many netizens commented, with some saying, “One of the employment directions for fine arts students.” Others shared the video with their spouses who are fine arts students. However, there are also opinions expressed that getting into this field is no easy feat for an average person, likening it to the difficulty faced by the vendor known for selling military-themed baked goods.