Meet Xinbao: ASI Global’s New IP Bridging Hearts to Hanzi

On January 10th, ASI Global was thrilled to announce the launch of its vibrant new intellectual property (IP), “Xinbao” (心宝). The debut took place during a special livestream event at the 2026 Beijing Book Fair, where the character was introduced alongside its first set of digital emojis.

Meet Xinbao

Xinbao grew organically out of ASI Global’s flagship cultural and educational initiative, the Hello, Hanzi book series, co-developed with Sino-Culture Press. It continues Hello, Hanzi’s long-standing mission of exploring Chinese characters through visual storytelling.

The character “心” in Hello, Hanzi

The design of Xinbao is rooted in one of the most ancient and fundamental Chinese characters: “心” (xīn), meaning both “heart” and “mind”. Appearing in countless words related to emotion, feeling, and thought, its visual form dates back over 3,000 years to Oracle Bone Script, where it was carved in the shape of a physical heart.

The Oracle Bone Script of “心” (heart; mind)

Visually, Xinbao echoes this ancient pictogram with its distinct heart-shaped head, while its friendly facial features are creatively derived from the character’s internal strokes. The name Xinbao (心宝) further reinforces this inspiration. Combining “心” (heart) with “宝” (bǎo, treasure), the name conveys the idea of a “treasure of the heart”: something emotionally meaningful, carefully held, and worth sharing. This transformation turns a foundational linguistic symbol into a living embodiment of love, understanding, and connection.

From Hello, Hanzi to Xinbao, ASI Global has maintained a consistent creative philosophy where AI serves as a “creative accelerator”. In developing Xinbao, AI was leveraged to explore a wide spectrum of visual styles and expressive possibilities. These explorations were then carefully refined through human judgment to ensure that each design remained culturally grounded and emotionally authentic.

One of the Editorial Committee Members of the “ZiChuang” Cultural Project Introduces the Creation of Xinbao at the Live Streaming Launch Event

Rather than a static symbol, Xinbao was designed to be a companion for everyday emotions. In emoji form, Xinbao smiles, cries, hesitates, and comforts—each expression rooted in daily life while subtly reflecting traditional Chinese aesthetics. These emojis transcend language barriers, allowing Xinbao to communicate through a universal language of emotion.

Xinbao’s First Digital Emojis Launch on WeChat  

(available for download and saving via the link https://zichuang.gecacademy.cn/emoji/emoji.html)

The release of these emojis marks just the beginning of Xinbao’s journey. ASI Global is already actively working on expanding Xinbao into themed collections inspired by social scenarios, traditional Chinese festivals, and intangible cultural heritage. With more sticker sets and cultural products in the pipeline, Xinbao is poised to become a warm, approachable bridge that connects global Chinese learners not only to the language itself but also to the emotional and cultural richness it embodies. Through Xinbao, ASI Global continues its commitment to make Chinese characters more accessible and enjoyable while fostering meaningful cross-cultural understanding.

Xinbao Chinese New Year Special Launch on WeChat

(available for download and saving via the link https://zichuang.gecacademy.cn/emoji/emojiNewYear.html)

Sneak Peek: Xinbao Fridge Magnets