Chinese Sugar Art (Chuī Tang Ren) — Blown Sugar Figures
China — Song Dynasty origin, national street tradition
Chuī tang ren (吹糖人) — blown sugar figures — is an ancient Chinese street art: caramelised maltose sugar is heated until pliable, then blown through a straw and shaped by hand into animals, birds, goldfish, and human figures within seconds. Dating to the Song Dynasty, the craft is now largely practiced by street artisans using traditional techniques passed down through generations.