The platform can provide creation and operation services covering virtual host, virtual idol and brand spokesperson for various sectors such as radio, television, internet, finance and retail.

该平台可以为广播、电视、互联网、金融、零售等各个领域提供涵盖虚拟主持人、虚拟偶像和品牌代言人的创作和运营服务。

At this current moment when product functions are homogenized and communication methods are the same, through the cultural empowerment of virtual idol IPs, unique and heterogeneous experiences and feelings can be created.

Sharetimes said that in the future, it will continue to create more virtual idol IPs with good virtues, such as kindness and courage.

"Be-an Idol"－a red bean-flavored ice cream topped with grass jelly－is also on the exclusive list, as grass jelly is a popular choice among Cantonese because it helps relieve humidity-related overheating.

By partnering with the Shanghai Public Security Bureau Traffic Police General Brigade, the company brought Hajiang, Budweiser's Gen-Z virtual idol who was named Shanghai's road safety ambassador by the city's traffic police in 2019, to share her exclusive stories about supporting road safety awareness campaigns across the country since last year.

AB InBev, the world's biggest brewer by production volume, introduced a Generation Z virtual idol, "Hajiang", Shanghai's first virtual road traffic safety ambassador to boost traffic safety and smart transportation during the eighth National Traffic Safety Day in Shanghai on Monday.

Virtual idol is a booming concept quickly gaining popularity among the younger people aged 25-30.

Sun also condemned the "fandom culture", noting that netizens often attack a company because of their idol.

For example, the virtual idol of Florasis is an ancient beauty, conforming to the brand's traditional Chinese culture.

Pop idol Ouyang Nana, who has 17 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter, posted her first vlog in 2018, when she went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, the United States, for study.

"My idol is Lee Meiyu, the first female sommelier who holds an advanced sommelier certificate and is the most advanced sommelier in Beijing," Gao said, adding that she's also preparing for the advanced certificate test.

Her popularity online reflects the fact that the virtual idol industry is booming in China.

According to data from online market research and business intelligence portal Statista, the scale of China's virtual idol market reached 6.22 billion yuan ($887.3 million) in 2021, bringing an extra value of 107 billion yuan to other sectors.

About 92.3 percent of virtual idol fans are aged between 19 and 30 years old, and 80 percent of followers spend less than 1,000 yuan per month on virtual idols, according to market consultancy iiMedia Research.

However, the virtual idol market in China is still in its early stages.

Imagine entering into an imaginary world with your best friend physically beyond your reach, or meeting a digital manifestation of your favorite idol.

M-zone, a popular brand under China Mobile, has teamed up with pop idol Zhang Yixing to popularize new services, including co-branded Xback smartphone phone SIM cards, virtual photo-taking services supported by augmented reality and virtual reality technologies, as well as AI-enabled avatar services.

Bilibili, a leading short-video sharing platform popular among young people, devoted 10 minutes of its gala to virtual idol Luo Tianyi, who sang five songs as real dancers performed.