Mermaid fantasy spurs business opportunities

Zhang Ruifen and her daughter play mermaids in an ocean park in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, Oct 11, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Almost every girl has dreamt of becoming the Little Mermaid after reading Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

Zhang Ruifen, 33, started to play a mermaid in an ocean park in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, at the beginning of 2015, after going through an unhappy marriage. Her daughter, eight, learned swimming and diving with her help.

"Perhaps my daughter will be an excellent mermaid in the future," Zhang said. "And I will be as courageous as the Little Mermaid whether it's my professional career or my personal life."