The 23-year-old graduate from Jilin University of The Arts submitted her idea to the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee in 2018 amid thousands of entries. Jiang and her team created more than 30 versions of a lantern-based mascot, and Shuey Rhon Rhon stood out among them all.

Jiang said she hopes that all people at the Paralympics and beyond can appreciate and be inspired by the special meaning sown into mascot.

"I will be very happy if Shuey Rhon Rhon can bring people strength," said Jiang.

In fact, Shuey Rhon Rhon has become more than just a mascot.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, posted a video on Twitter showing Shuey Rhon Rhon giving hugs to American ice hockey players. "A heartwarming surprise for the US ice hockey team after the match," she wrote.

"Hopefully Shuey Rhon Rhon, like Bing Dwen Dwen, can become a messenger to deliver the love of Chinese people for the Olympics and Paralympics to the world, as well as true stories of China," a netizen named Yanming wrote on Weibo.