The surprise popularity of an installation art piece in the shape of a toy may reveal the deep longings of some people, but could also be a sign of a desire for light relief in the face of life's mounting pressures.

A giant yellow rubber duck that appeared in Beijing recently has been turning many heads and sending others scratching them, but why is there such a fascination with something so simple?

The Rubber Duck, as it is known in English, first popped up in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor in May and has now landed in Beijing's Garden Expo.