A sweet snack that is also a “work of art” fascinates park visitors to Disney's California Adventure.
Chinese sugar art draws visitors with its intricate designs and cultural significance, all part of Disneyland's Lunar New Year celebration.
The molten masterpieces were carefully created by the talented mother-daughter duo of Yujan Sui and Selena Yan.
But the sweet treat is so exquisite and so delicate that some guests wonder whether they should even take a bite.
The Sweet Enchantments kiosk has become the talk of the town, offering a variety of sugar art creations.
Hailing from Lanzhou, China, the pair transform molten sugar into stunning designs that feel more at home in an art gallery than a theme park.
Their work includes symbols of the Chinese zodiac, including snakes for the Year of the Snake, alongside playful designs such as butterflies, pandas and even dinosaurs.
“It's very, very difficult,” Yan revealed in an interview with SFGate. 'You have to have a picture in your mind when you draw it. You can't possibly stop rethinking the form or something.'
A sweet snack that is also a “work of art” fascinates park visitors to Disney's California Adventure
The women are artisans who transform molten sugar into beautiful designs that feel more at home in an art gallery than a theme park
Chinese sugar art draws visitors with its intricate designs and cultural significance, all part of Disneyland's Lunar New Year celebration
It only takes about a minute to make each piece, but after you pour the heart (or sugar) into each design, the result is nothing short of spectacular – and almost too delicious to eat!
This year the festival runs from January 17 to February 16, after which the sugar stall will be closed down for another year – but these sweet wonders are sure to leave nothing but sweet memories.
It's a tricky business, but the pièce de résistance of the stand's offering is an intricate dragon, available for $15 – a relatively small price to pay for the chance to hold and taste such a rare treasure.
Simpler designs, including hearts or butterflies, retail for $12.
“It was a pleasure working with them last year,” said Edgar Hernandez, whose nonprofit Working to Give operates the kiosk.
“They are like family to us right now. We enjoy working with them and are happy that they could come back again this year. She has such high expectations for how they look, especially when a customer is super excited about seeing these creations
“If there's a little kid who says her year is the Year of the Dog, she'll do her very best to make it,” Hernandez said. “I think part of the reason why she likes being there is because she really enjoys making people's day great.”
Talk about a treat that's too good to eat! This is an art form that does not disguise its craftsmanship
Each piece only takes about a minute to create, but each design is nothing short of spectacular
The Sweet Enchantments kiosk has become the talk of the town, offering a variety of sugar art creations.
Spin the wheel and let fate sweeten your day with one of eight designs
The molten masterpieces were carefully created by talented mother-daughter duo Yujan Sui (pictured) and Selena Yan
Sui brought her craft to New York years ago, where it remained a hidden gem until Disney discovered her talent at Dragon Fest, an annual outdoor Chinese food festival
Disney's sugar art draws crowds with its intricate designs of sugar-coated perfection
The sweet treat is so exquisite and so delicate that some guests wonder whether they should even take a bite
The art of Chinese sugar painting is a centuries-old tradition, often seen in busy street markets in China, as pictured here with children in Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China
The art of Chinese sugar painting is a centuries-old tradition, often seen in the bustling street markets of China, but rarely experienced in the United States.
Sui brought her craft to New York years ago, where it remained a hidden gem until Disney discovered her talent at Dragon Fest, an annual outdoor festival of Chinese food and culture that takes place in the city every fall.
Last year, the two estimate they consumed about 500 pounds of sugar.
“Back in the day, sugar art was quite popular,” Yan explains. 'You could see the art on the streets all the time. Right now it's pretty rare to see this.”
Now, under the vibrant lights of Disney's Lunar New Year, Sui's work bridges generations and cultures, bringing a piece of China's artistic heritage to a global audience.
Each swirl of molten sugar, poured with precision and care, tells a story of resilience, creativity and a mother's determination to share her craft with the world.
