TANING × Journey to the West: Behind the Scenes with Iconic Characters as One-Day Shopkeepers

——A Blast from the Past for the 80s and 90s Generation in the Greater Bay Area

Recently, Guangzhou residents reported spotting four “unusually dressed” mysterious men at a TANING store. One carried a monastic staff with refined elegance, another shouldered a golden cudgel with playful mischief, a third sported a prominent belly with comical charm, and the fourth bore a thick beard with honest simplicity. The four busied themselves behind the counter—shaking tea, cutting lemons, taking orders, and serving drinks—all with seamless coordination.

Yes, you read that right.

Four veteran actors, dressed as the iconic characters from Journey to the West—Sun Wukong (in the style of Dicky Cheung), Tang Sanzang (in the style of Kwong Wa), Zhu Bajie (in the style of Wayne Lai), and Sha Wujing (in the style of Evergreen Mak)—made a surprise appearance at TANING for a special “One-Day Shopkeeper” shoot. These beloved characters, which carry the childhood memories of generations in the Greater Bay Area, quickly went viral, racking up over 50 million views across all platforms.

01. Quenching Thirst on the Journey West

“Blimey! Guangzhou is hotter than the Flaming Mountain!”

On the day of the shoot, the temperature in Guangzhou soared to 35°C. Dressed in full costume, “Sun Wukong” (channelling Dicky Cheung’s iconic portrayal) arrived on set and immediately delivered that signature line.

Before the director could call “action,” he dashed to the counter: “Boss, give me a signature lemon tea! Extra ice, extra sugar—I need the energy to shoot!”

Beside him, the refined “Tang Sanzang” (embodying Kwong Wa’s gentle elegance) fanned himself with a small fan: “Wukong, I’ll have one too. A Signature Duck Shit Aroma Lemon Tea, less ice, less sugar. A calm mind cools the body.”

“Zhu Bajie” leaned in: “Master, you’re so particular! I’ll take the signature—full sugar, full ice, the sweeter the better!”

The loyal “Sha Wujing” (channeling Evergreen Mak’s earnest simplicity) smiled softly: “I’m not fussy. A Fresh & Light Fruit Tea will do.”

Before filming even began, all four were already holding their drinks, letting out a collective sigh of satisfaction: “Ahhh, so refreshing!”

From behind the monitor, the director called out with a laugh: “Hey! The ad budget isn’t meant for your tea breaks!”

02. Shaking Tea with the Golden Cudgel? Director: Maybe Use TANING’s Shakeshake Cup?

The first shot was a close-up of “Wukong” shaking lemon tea.

He pulled out his prop golden cudgel, twirled it in a flashy move reminiscent of Dicky Cheung’s signature style, and shouted: “Transform!”

Then… he actually stuck the cudgel into TANING’s shaker cup.

“Director, my cudgel’s been shaking tea for five hundred years. It’s way better than your shaker cup!”

The director was speechless: “Mr. Wukong, we have professional equipment. You don’t need to bring your own props…”

The cameraman muttered: “When he shook with the cudgel just now, it left afterimages. I couldn’t keep up with the lens…”

The final effect was stunning: during those few seconds of shaking, the screen filled with afterimages and clone-like visuals, as if he might take off into the air at any moment.

03. Cooling Tea or Cool Tea? The Master’s Classic Misunderstanding

During a break, an impromptu scene was captured by a crew member—

“Tang Sanzang” (with Kwong Wa’s signature elegance) was sweating under the heat and called out to “Wukong”: “Wukong, it’s so hot in Guangzhou. Go get me some cooling tea.”

“Wukong” winked, instantly switching to Dicky Cheung’s mischievous expression, and shouted toward the counter: “Three signature lemon teas, please!”

“Tang Sanzang” took the cup, puzzled: “Wukong, I asked for cooling tea. This is…”

“Wukong” grinned: “Exactly—cool tea! Drink it—it’s more refreshing than that bitter herbal stuff!”

“Tang Sanzang” took a sip, and his refined expression softened into one of satisfaction: “Hmm… this really is cooling and refreshing. Much better than bitter medicine.”

“Zhu Bajie” snickered: “Master, the senior brother’s playing word games again!”

Beside them, “Sha Wujing” (with Evergreen Mak’s quiet honesty) nodded silently and continued muddling lemons.

The crew burst into laughter, while the director exclaimed excitedly: “Keep that scene! Put it in the final cut!”

04. Bajie, It’s Not Shaken Evenly Yet!

Another scene captured “Zhu Bajie” sneaking a drink.

“Wukong” had just shaken three cups of lemon tea and turned to grab lids. When he looked back, “Zhu Bajie” was already slurping from one of them.

“Idiot! It’s not evenly shaken yet!”

“Zhu Bajie” looked innocent: “Brother Monkey, it’s too good to resist! And you shake so evenly—what’s the difference?”

“Sha Wujing” chimed in with his trademark honesty: “Senior brother, he’s already snuck three cups. Which number are you counting?”

“Wukong” fell silent.

“Tang Sanzang” sat nearby with eyes closed, exuding Kwong Wa’s serene composure: “Wicked disciple… my cup hasn’t been stolen, has it?”

The script supervisor noted quietly: Bajie sneaked 8 cups of lemon tea today, Wukong rolled his eyes 5 times, the director cracked up 3 times.

05. Wrap! Everyone Take Another Cup Home

From 8 a.m. until nightfall, the “work day” for the four pilgrims finally came to an end.

The moment the director called “cut,” all four collapsed into their chairs.

“Wukong” rubbed his wrists, mimicking Dicky Cheung’s signature tone: “Shaking tea all day—my arms are killing me. This is harder than fighting demons!”

“Zhu Bajie” patted his belly: “Drinking tea all day—I’m so full I don’t need dinner!”

“Sha Wujing” looked at the pile of lemon peels on the table, offering Evergreen Mak’s simple smile: “Cutting lemons all day—my eyes are stinging, but my knife skills have definitely improved.”

“Tang Sanzang” pressed his palms together, his voice carrying Kwong Wa’s gentle warmth: “Amitabha. Who knew filming an ad would be harder than the journey west?”

The director walked over with a smile: “Great work, everyone! Wrap gift—one more drink each to take home!”

“Wukong” sprang up in an instant, grinning: “Boss, I’ll take a signature lemon tea, regular ice, regular sugar!”

“Zhu Bajie”: “I’ll take another signature—extra sugar!”

“Sha Wujing” raised his hand humbly: “I’ll take one for Master—Avocado, Kale & Mango, less sugar.”

A crew member murmured: “The tea they’ve drunk today could stock a whole new store…”

Performance Highlights

This delightfull collaboration not only brought back childhood memories for the Greater Bay Area but also sparked a massive response across the internet:

Total Views: Over 50 Million

Douyin: 30M+ views

Xiaohongshu: 10M+ views

WeChat Video Channel: 10M+ views

Total Interactions: 580,000+
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A Final Note

This delightful collaboration between TANING and the classic characters of Journey to the West was a joyful collision of worlds.

When Dicky Cheung’s mischievous Sun Wukong, Kwong Wa’s refined Tang Sanzang, Wayne Lai’s endearing Zhu Bajie, and Evergreen Mak’s loyal Sha Wujing all appeared together at a TANING store in Guangzhou—this was more than just a crossover between a brand and a classic. It was a heartfelt tribute to the childhood memories of a generation.

As Dicky Cheung’s Sun Wukong famously put it:

“Drink TANING, and you’ll be cooler than cool!”

Whether on the road to the West, clocking in for a shift, or simply enjoying an ordinary hot afternoon—shaking up a cup of lemon tea and feeling that burst of icy refreshment on your tongue is one of life’s simplest, truest pleasures.

So the next time you’re strolling through Guangzhou and step into a TANING store, if you happen to see a “Wukong” shaking tea with blurring speed, a “Master” carefully studying the menu, or a “Sha Wujing” quietly slicing lemons in the corner—

Don’t be surprised. They might just be passing through Guangzhou, earning a little travel money before continuing their journey west.

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