A popular coloring book made for adults, "Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt" is receiving some unexpected backlash from the Chinese public, with many seeing the book as a childish waste of time.
Created by Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford, the coloring book has been popular in China ever since it was published in June. Many have testified on social media to the book's stress-relieving effects.
However, many are now complaining that the coloring book is bringing about a regression into childhood problems rather than the simple pleasure of coloring.
Some have complained about experiencing stressful situations of not knowing which color to use, when in the end the final product does not even look any good.
Some have even claimed that the coloring book is addictive and has deprived them of adequate sleep.
The backlash has gotten to the point that one bookstore in Guangzhou has stopped selling the coloring book, claiming that there is nothing inspirational or meaningful about the book.
"Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt" is not the only adult-oriented interactive art book of its kind in the market.
The martial arts film "The Assassin" has a tie-in painting book that has sold more than 100,000 copies. Another book, "Scratch Night View," published by South Korean Lago Design, allows the person to create art by peeling away layers to reveal an image underneath.
Representative of the Chinese Academy of Art in Beijing Yan Zhong has dismissed the artistic significance of the coloring book, stating that the colorer is not encouraged to create with original ideas and emotion. The colorer only mechanically fills in spaces with a crayon or colored pencil, added Yan.
On the other hand, Dean of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication in Beijing Xu Shengguo views the coloring books as beneficial tools that prompt social interaction.
"The hit of coloring books is a sign which predicts that social publishing and social reading will be a major trend in the future," said Xu.