[Meng Po Cosplay] The daily soup-brewing routine at the underwater ghost gathering

Want some soup? Meng Po's signature slow-cooked soup—drink this bowl to forget all your worries.

This time at the Grandview Mall Underwater Mischief Festival's underwater ghost gathering, I took on the role of Meng Po for a Halloween cosplay. To present the best visual effect in this Halloween-themed event, I made plenty of preparations in advance regarding costumes, makeup, and props. For the costume, I chose a classic red-and-black ancient-style long robe, with exquisite totems on the red-based cuffs and belt that look very textured. For the hairpiece, to fit Meng Po's traditional image without looking too old, I specially crafted a retro black hair bun adorned with red bead flowers, paired with dark red lip makeup and a slightly pale base makeup. The overall look has both the weirdness of Halloween cosplay and the charm of ancient style.

As an NPC, props are indispensable. The black alchemy pot and wooden mallet on the table, as well as the stack of Samsara notes in my hand, were all carefully prepared for interaction. In the interaction zone, I couldn't just stand there posing; I needed behavioral logic matching the character setting. Facing the surrounding tourists, I would solemnly ask if they came for soup, then hand them the Samsara notes and earnestly explain the rules of crossing the bridge. When encountering curious children, I would soften my tone appropriately to tease them; when meeting cooperative adults, we would engage in some immersive role-play.

The on-site atmosphere setup was fantastic. The organizers arranged green ghostly candleholders and huge posters in the background, which, combined with the aquarium's built-in blue lighting and shadows, gave the entire Meng Po Samsara Studio a unique feeling where the deep sea and fantasy intertwined. There were also some popular science exhibition boards next to the booth. This kind of activity combining traditional cultural elements, a Halloween atmosphere, and a modern science venue is really interesting.

To do cosplay well, the key lies in the understanding of the character and the control of details. From the standing posture to the gesture of handing over the notes, including the frequency of tapping the rim of the pot with the mallet, I tried my best to fit the setting. Throughout the event, although wearing the robe and wig was quite stuffy and hot, seeing everyone immerse themselves in the plot and interact with me—some adults even getting more into character than I did—made all the preparation worthwhile. The core of Halloween is joy; thoughtful styling and scenes allow everyone to briefly experience a fantastical world.