The topic of “grown-ups playing with toys” has been trending on social media for quite some time now. For many, toys are more than just nostalgic objects—they’ve become a lifestyle choice, and even a way of pushing back against traditional expectations.
But for Brother Dong, who’s well past his forties, toys aren’t some novelty—they’re simply part of everyday life, and have been for decades.
We visited his “base” on the outskirts of the city to chat about toys, hobbies, and the simple joys of life.
1. A Never-Ending Collection
From LEGO race cars parked beside the barbecue, to display cabinets overflowing (and even stacked to the ceiling) with models and building sets, Brother Dong’s personal “Dong’s Courtyard” is enough to keep any toy enthusiast captivated for hours.
While most casual collectors might stick to one or two types of toys, Brother Dong can talk endlessly about the categories in his collection. LEGO takes center stage, of course—he’s now also been exploring a wide range of Chinese domestic brick brands. He’s collected every model in the 1:27 scale Miniz RC car series from Kyosho since its debut in 1999. There are also crawling RC trucks, which he regularly takes outdoors with friends, and even 1/6 WWII soldier figures from DID.
Brother Dong still remembers his very first toys as a kid—model kits made in China when he was five or six. Back then, the quality wasn’t great, and he had no concept of tools like cutters or sanding paper. “I’d just snap them apart by hand,” he says. But that didn’t make it any less fun.
Later on, he discovered global brands like Tamiya and Trumpeter, marking the beginning of what he jokingly calls his “no turning back” journey into the world of toys. His interest only grew broader over time.
That said, he’s not into every kind of toy. For example, he avoids model aircraft—“Too stressful to operate. One wrong move and it’s gone.” The only attempt he made was with a helicopter. It flew off into the night and never returned.
He’s also dabbled in things like blind boxes and Gundam kits. While he doesn’t collect them as extensively, his approach is consistent: “If I’m going to play, I’m going to understand what I’m playing with.”
This philosophy doesn’t stop with toys. Brother Dong also collects vintage birdcages, hand-polished walnuts, carved beads, and traditional Chinese papercut art from masters in Zhaozhou. “As long as we share an interest, we’ll have something to talk about.”
2. Limited Space, Unlimited Passion
The jam-packed toy cabinets at home only showcase a small fraction of Brother Dong’s collection. Toys can be found not only on shelves and tables, but also inside wardrobes and even out in the courtyard. “No matter how big your house is, it’ll get filled,” he jokes. At one point, he had to rent out a warehouse just to store his growing collection.
He has considered starting a toy museum, but for now, most of his toys are still kept in storage. “We’re talking thousands of boxes—organizing them is no small feat.”
To manage it all, Brother Dong even built his own ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. “Honestly, I just bought way too much,” he laughs. Many of the toys were boxed up and stored away right after purchase. After a while, he started buying duplicates without realizing. “A tracking system became a must.”
ERP Inventory System
But owning a lot doesn’t mean the toys sit untouched. He remembers the story behind nearly every piece. Hidden near the bottom of one cabinet, for instance, is the first-ever remote control LEGO car. Finding it took real effort. If someone who didn’t understand saw it, they might just dismiss it as an old RC car. Brother Dong shrugs: “That’s fine. Some people enjoy toys, others prefer tea. It’s all good.”
But when he meets someone who does understand, “I’m happy to share the story behind it.” After all, collecting toys is often about fate—rare finds don’t always come with a big price tag. And if the buyer is someone truly passionate, Brother Dong might even let it go at retail price. “That’s a kind of legacy too.”
2. LEGO, Miniz, and Life Lessons
Brother Dong has a broad range of LEGO favorites—from The LEGO Movie sets and Technic flagships to modular buildings and race cars. As he puts it, the bigger the build, the more satisfying the result.
He gestures toward the custom cabinet next to the TV, where a massive LEGO Eiffel Tower proudly stands. At one point, he even called LEGO to inquire about building a two-meter tall Christmas tree. The estimate came back: six figures’ worth of bricks. So, that idea’s on hold—for now.
What he really hopes to see are large modular sets that combine into massive scenes—castles, cities, anything with scale and presence. “LEGO’s modular streets get partway there, but the overall world-building still feels limited. I think Chinese brands could really step up here.”
Cars, however, are his true passion. From his own real-life modified cars to every scale and type of RC model, he’s all in. Back in 1996, he bought his first gas-powered RC car, spending over 4,000 RMB. Though life got in the way and he paused the hobby, he returned to it years later—and hasn’t stopped since. His all-time favorite? Kyosho’s Miniz line.
He owns every Miniz model from the very first to the latest release.
When other collectors decide to sell off dozens at once, Brother Dong doesn’t cherry-pick. If he’s missing most of them, he’ll take the whole lot. “If I ever leave the hobby, I’d want someone else to take everything, too.” He’s spent plenty of time and money chasing rare models—some bodies cost over 10,000 RMB. “You can’t find them anymore. So I had to grab them.”
And yes, even if the model and color are the same, if the item number is different, he’s adding it to the shelf.
For Brother Dong, collecting toys is all about staying true to yourself. “Don’t chase other people’s opinions. Some things, you need to experience for yourself.” When you’re happy, the people around you will feel it too.
That belief extends beyond toys. When his child was in high school, parents were invited to give motivational speeches. Most talked about studying hard and fighting for a successful future. Brother Dong, however, told the students to find hobbies and strive for spiritual fulfillment. “The teacher said I gave a pretty good speech.”
Collecting toys? Yeah, it’s a pretty great thing.
LEGOCollector