About Zhou Yi — “The Sugar King”

Who is Zhou Yi?

Zhou Yi is China’s most decorated sugar artist. In 2017 he won International Best in Show at Cake International in Birmingham — the highest honour in world sugarcraft, and the first time a Chinese artist took the top award. In 2024 he returned to win 7 Gold medals and 1 Silver, again taking the overall Best in Show. His work has been featured by CGTN and CCTV [MEDIA-LINK-PLACEHOLDER], and his tutorials reach over ten million followers online.

What is Chinese sugarcraft?

Chinese sugarcraft blends classical Chinese sculpture and painting with Western cake-decorating techniques. Zhou Yi’s figures — porcelain-skinned, draped in sugar “silk” — redefined what judges believed was possible in edible art, and brought Chinese aesthetics to the top of the world competition stage.

What materials does Zhou Yi use?

Every award-winning piece — from the fine wired flowers to the structural showpieces — is made with Shaniabelle materials. The moisture-resistant gum paste that holds his petals was engineered to his specification: no cracking, no drying out, stable in any climate.

Shaniabelle is officially authorized by Zhou Yi. His award-winning works are made exclusively with Shaniabelle materials.

Selected Works

International Media & Collaborations

Zhou Yi’s work has been covered by international broadcasters and featured as a case study by a major Chinese luxury brand for its cultural-marketing strategy. Independent press references below.

• CGTN — Sugar art revolution: How Chinese artisan redefines fondant (2025 documentary feature)
• CGTN — China’s “Sugar King” creates the most incredible cake decorations (2017 Best in Show coverage)
• Cake International — Official announcement — Sugar King Zhou Yi at Cake International (Facebook, the organiser)
• Cake International — Show floor & interview footage (YouTube)
• MGM & China — Turning a traditional cultural symbol into a marketing catalyst (case study, featuring Zhou Yi’s sugarcraft as a luxury cultural-marketing vehicle — PDF)