What’s soft, squishy, and covered in fuzz—yet can sell for hundreds of Yuan?
That would be moldy oranges, the latest bizarre trend taking over Chinese second-hand platforms like Xianyu.
Moldy oranges for sale on China's largest second-hand platform Xianyu. Image by That's
Rotting, fungus-covered oranges are going viral—and selling like hotcakes—with prices ranging anywhere from RMB20 to RMB500, and in some cases, even over RMB5,000 for a set of 'naturally molded' fruit.
One student from Shandong reportedly sold a single fuzzy orange for RMB500, stunning both netizens and the buyer.
The listing even specified the type of mold—Penicillium, for those who like their rot scientifically labeled.
So who on Earth is buying this stuff?
Apparently, there’s a full-blown niche market.
A set of moldy oranges selling for RMB1,600 and a 4-year-old rotten orange priced at RMB1,500. Screenshot by That’s
Some buyers are students or researchers, purchasing the moldy fruit for science experiments to observe fungal growth.
Others are artists, drawn to the eerie beauty of naturally growing spores and the unintentional abstract art they create.
The demand has grown so much that sellers are now uploading curated 'collections' of moldy citrus, complete with artistic descriptions and creative packaging.
It’s the kind of entrepreneurial oddity that has sparked commentary across Chinese social media, with users joking:
“You really can’t make money beyond the limits of your imagination.”
But beyond the humor lies a surprising lesson: even decomposition has value, if you know how to market it right.
Would you pay for a rotting orange if it looked like a museum piece?
Or has this gone too far?
Share your thoughts and follow us on WeChat at ThatsGBA for more stories that are just a little off the rind.
[Cover image by That's]
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