DaYan (大雁) — the “Wild Goose” of speedcubing

DaYan is a Chinese puzzle manufacturer that has been around since the mid-2000s and specializes in speedcubes. The brand became famous in the era of the first big world records in speedsolving: its cubes GuHong and ZhanChi practically became the symbol of the “new wave” of speedcubing and dominated competitions for a long time.

The brand was created by designer Daqing Bao, known in the community under the nickname “Da Yan Tou” (大烟头). The name DaYan (大雁) translates as “wild goose”, and the logo is built around the character “头” (“head”, “first”), which fits well with the company’s ambition to be “one step ahead” in mechanism design.

DaYan’s role in the history of speedcubing

• From “toys” to real speedcubes. Before GuHong and ZhanChi, the market was mostly filled with modified classic cubes. DaYan was one of the first to offer mass-produced models designed specifically for speedsolving.
• GuHong (2010) — one of the first cubes with confident reverse corner-cutting. For its time it was a breakthrough: the cube cut corners well while staying smooth and quiet.
• ZhanChi (2011) — the legendary flagship used for multiple world records. The cube introduced “torpedoes” (anchor elements in the edges) that greatly reduced pops and became a prototype solution later used in many other brands.
• In the early 2010s DaYan cubes were so widely used that at competitions you could see them on almost every solving station — especially in the hands of top competitors of that era.

Name and brand philosophy

• DaYan (大雁) — “wild goose”, a reference to a migratory bird that flies far and keeps its course. It’s a good metaphor for a company that set the direction for cube development in the 2010s.
• The creator’s nickname “大烟头” (“Da Yan Tou”) is reflected in the logo: it uses the character “头” (“head”, “first”), emphasizing the brand’s pioneering ambitions.
• In the English-speaking community the brand is usually called simply DaYan or “Big Goose”.

Main series and successful models

Classic 3×3 line

• Dayan 1: TaiYan — the brand’s first model. Today it’s more of a collector’s item, recognizable by the absence of “Florian holes” in the corners.
• Dayan 2: GuHong (2010) — often called “the grandfather of modern speedcubes”. It is known for:
  • a very fast, soft and quiet turning feel for its time;
  • the ability to do confident reverse corner-cutting;
  • early experiments with a stickerless design (separate colored pieces instead of stickers).
  Of course, it also had the drawbacks of that era: a tendency to pop and a need for careful setup.
• Dayan 5: ZhanChi (2011) — one of the most famous cubes in history:
  • used for numerous world records;
  • a mechanism with edge “torpedoes” reduced pops and later inspired many other designs;
  • produced in several sizes (57, 55, 50, 42 mm) and very popular for one-handed solving;
  • spawned many custom mods (silky versions, heavily polished edges, custom centers, etc.).
• LingYun and LunHui — DaYan’s third- and fourth-generation cubes:
  • LingYun v1 was fast but very pop-prone; torpedoes appeared in v2;
  • LunHui was the first DaYan with torpedoes “out of the box”, with excellent corner-cutting but heavier and slightly slower than other models.

Cubes for other events

• DaYan + MF8 4×4 — a joint project and one of the first truly competitive 4×4s. It was used for 4×4 average world records in the early 2010s, although without mods it suffered from edge pops.
• DaYan Megaminx and Megaminx V2 M — the first was based on GuHong-style mechanics, while the V2 M version is considered one of the stronger modern megaminxes: light, magnetic and with a comfortable grip.
• DaYan ZhanChi 2×2 — a mini cube based on the 42 mm ZhanChi. For a long time it was regarded as one of the best 2×2s on the market.

Unsuccessful experiments and controversial models

The story of DaYan is not only about hits; there are a few models that the community received rather coldly. For a “know your manufacturer” section, this is also important.

• PanShi (Dayan 6) (2013) — often mentioned as the “end of the DaYan dominance era”:
  • out of the box it felt clicky, rough and relatively slow;
  • with careful setup it became “okay”, but no longer set the standard for the market;
  • against its competitors of the time, it was perceived as a step backwards in feel and stability.
• ZhanChi 2017 — the first attempt to “revive” the brand after a pause:
  • the community considered the cube rough, unstable and prone to lockups;
  • in practice it did not come close to the success of the original ZhanChi.
• ZhanChi 2018 — a revised version:
  • better than the 2017 version in terms of stability and smoothness;
  • but still perceived as an average cube and quickly overshadowed by new models from other brands.
• XiangYun (2018) — another experimental flagship:
  • received an updated design, bright colors and closed pieces;
  • but was criticized for instability and noticeable corner catching.
• GuHong V4 M (2020):
  • a light and fast cube with strong magnets and thin semi-transparent plastic;
  • some cubers complained about loud noise and fragile center parts;
  • in popularity it clearly lost to the TengYun series.
• NeZha 5×5 M (2022):
  • intended as an alternative to popular 5×5s from other brands;
  • well-regarded for speed, but criticized for insufficient stability and center caps that popped off easily.

The return of DaYan: quiet cubes and magnetic cores

After several quiet years DaYan managed to come back into the “top league” of current speedcubes. The key line of this comeback is the TengYun series and the new generations of GuHong and ZhanChi.

• TengYun M v1 (2019) — the first widely known 3×3 from DaYan with magnets:
  • very quiet turning and a soft feel;
  • fast, but with fairly weak magnets, so some cubers found it too loose;
  • became popular, including as a cube for one-handed solving.
• TengYun M v2 (2020) — evolution of the idea:
  • added spring and magnet strength adjustment;
  • kept the soft “TengYun feel” but became more stable;
  • for the first time in a while, DaYan had a flagship that many considered a viable main at the level of its competitors.
• GuHong V3 M / V4 M / GuHong Pro / Pro+ — a modern reinterpretation of the classic line:
  • magnetic versions with improved corner-cutting and resistance to pops;
  • in GuHong Pro and Pro+ you get magnetic cores (corner-to-core), adjustable magnets and a contemporary center-adjustment system;
  • several sizes are available (54/55/56 mm), which is convenient for different hand sizes and for OH.
• ZhanChi Pro / ZhanChi V5 — attempts to “rebuild the classic”:
  • equipped with magnetic axles, adjustable magnets and a more modern mechanism;
  • community reaction is mixed, but the series is interesting for those who love the “classic ZhanChi feel” in a refreshed format.

Fun facts about DaYan

• In the early 2010s it was hard to imagine a major competition without DaYan cubes: GuHong and ZhanChi were widely used by both beginners and top speedcubers.
• The original ZhanChi is often called one of the most modded cubes in history: there were “silky” versions, heavy edge sanding mods, custom centers and much more.
• The joint DaYan + MF8 4×4 was long considered the benchmark 4×4 until it was overtaken by newer models from other brands.
• Many early DaYan cubes are valued by collectors: first batches (with softer plastic) are still sought after more than later productions — especially “old” GuHong and ZhanChi.
• In its modern models DaYan focuses on:
  • quiet, soft turning (especially the TengYun line);
  • magnetic cores and adjustable magnets;
  • multiple sizes of the same cube for different purposes (main, OH, etc.).

Summary: why people still value DaYan today

DaYan is a brand that went from absolute market leader through a quiet period and back again. Early models like GuHong and ZhanChi laid the foundation of modern speedcubing, while the new GuHong Pro+, TengYun and updated ZhanChi show that the “wild goose” still knows how to surprise cubers with its mechanisms and turning feel.