Zhao Lusi sends Thai inhaler brand "Hanuman" viral in China
Chinese actress Zhao Lusi has inadvertently boosted the profile of Thai herbal inhaler brand Hanuman after featuring the product in a social media video following her visit to Thailand. The exposure on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok, has sparked growing interest in the product among Chinese consumers and strengthened the brand's popularity in both markets. The incident highlights the power of celebrity influence in promoting Thai products as part of the country's broader cultural appeal across Asia.
BANGKOK — 14 May 2026, Thai herbal inhaler brand Hanuman said it had gained growing attention in China after Chinese actress Zhao Lusi featured the product in a social media video following her recent visit to Thailand.
Samunprai Hanuman Co., Ltd., producer of the Hanuman herbal inhaler, said the appearance of the product in a video posted by Zhao on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, had helped boost interest in Thai products among Chinese consumers.
The actress recently travelled to Thailand for a concert performance and later shared a casual video after returning to China showing herself eating Thai seaweed snacks. Fans quickly noticed a Hanuman herbal inhaler placed prominently on a table in the clip.
The video drew widespread attention from fans in both Thailand and China, with many social media users commenting on the actress's use of Thai products and describing the inhaler as part of Thailand's growing "soft power" appeal across Asia.
The company said the exposure had strengthened the Hanuman brand's popularity in both the Thai and Chinese markets.
Hanuman herbal inhalers are marketed as helping relieve dizziness, nasal congestion and fatigue through the use of traditional Thai herbal ingredients. The products are widely sold at convenience stores, including 7-Eleven Thailand, and pharmacies nationwide.