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China influencer earns US$7 million from wish candles sale before arrest for fraud
South China Morning Post
Published about 2 hours ago

China influencer earns US$7 million from wish candles sale before arrest for fraud

South China Morning Post · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from RSS

Summary

In China, some young people are paying steep prices for wish candles sold by influencers, hoping to rekindle a romance. One such influencer, Li Zhuofan, built a following of more than 600,000 on mainland social media after appearing on the Russian reality show The Battle of Psychics, where she used a candle to “locate” a person hidden in a car boot and claimed she could sense that someone had once died in another vehicle. After returning to China, Li began selling handmade wish candles online....

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In China, some young people are paying steep prices for wish candles sold by influencers, hoping to rekindle a romance.One such influencer, Li Zhuofan, built a following of more than 600,000 on mainland social media after appearing on the Russian reality show The Battle of Psychics, where she used a candle to “locate” a person hidden in a car boot and claimed she could sense that someone had once died in another vehicle.After returning to China, Li began selling handmade wish candles online. The candles were decorated with crystals and dried flowers and infused with essential oils.She marketed different blends as having different powers, from boosting careers and wealth to helping an ex return.One of the so-called wish candles pictured behind an explanatory note. Photo: QQ.comPrices started at 2,888 yuan (US$420), with a “triple luck” version costing up to 7,888 yuan.

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