Rubber Duck Locations Confirmed, Backup Quacker Also on its Way

The Rubber Duck will float at the Summer Palace and Beijing Garden Expo, and an emergency backup Duck has been prepared in case of deflation.

In a follow up to rumors a few weeks ago over where the Rubber Duck would be floated in Beijing, China Daily reports that the Duck is confirmed for the Summer Palace and Beijing Garden Expo. However, the Duck will first float at the Garden Expo, not the Summer Palace, as reports previously indicated.

Beijing Design Week has stated that these two locations were mainly chosen by the Duck’s creator, Florentijn Hofman, based on suggestions from the Design Week Committee. Size and recognizable Beijing characteristics were apparently the main factors in the Dutch artist’s decision. Although we’re not quite sure what is recognizable about Beijing at the Garden Expo, since it only opened this year and is far out of the city.

A second Duck will also be brought to Beijing as a backup, in case the first deflates. When the Rubber Duck was on display in Hong Kong harbor last spring, it lost air and was reduced to a puddle of floating yellow plastic. The Beijing Rubber Duck will also be one point five meters taller than its Hong Kong predecessor at 18 meters.

Hofman will be in Beijing to launch the Duck at the Expo on September 6 where it can be seen for a RMB 100 entrance fee. Rubber Duck will remain at the Expo until September 23 after which it will be moved to the Summer Palace which has an entrance fee of RMB 30. It will be on display there from September 26 to October 26.

In further Duck news, a boat designed to look like a Roast Duck appeared in Shanghai this week. This dark take on Rubber Duck was received with lament, WSJ Asia reported.

Netizens also made complaints about paying to see Rubber Duck when we first announced these possible locations on Weibo. How do you feel about trekking out of the city and paying to see this giant international novelty?

Photos: WSJ Asia, China Daily, Beijing Cream,