Qi Zhilong painted his "Consumer Icon" series from 1992 to 1994. He is one of the earliest Chinese political pop artists. While interviewing with Yang Wei, Qi recalled that "it is clearing up 'politics' in a political manner, instead of clearing up 'politics' with a notion of 'consumption'".

His "Chinese Girl" was exhibited in 1996. After retiring images of swimsuits and flowers, he used brand images such as in this picture where a girl from the age of materialism wears brand while actually wearing a green army uniform from the time of the Cultural Revolution. The girl's smile with profound meaning also reflects the loss of cultural memory in the age of hustle and bustle.

Having experienced psychological hardships and having their material desires satisfied, human beings will feel their spiritual aspiration. In 2000, Qi Zhilong tended to regress further to romantic memories of the past. This work of art was painted in 2006. It is still a girl in a Cultural-Revolution army uniform, with a pair of pigtails, but her smile is no longer there on the canvas. This artwork is filled with narrative atmosphere of time brand, exuding tenderness and love, and the complicated feelings of experiencing great changes as time goes by. This painting reflects and expresses the call of idealism from the bottom of the hearts of the painter.

Su Xianting, the renowned critic commented: "There exists the beautifulness which would make you forget about tribulation; there exists the purity which would comfort you from desolation; there exists the sweetness that would touch the softest part of your heart, and would inspire you to recollect the hope to the future. This would be the beautiful and pure 'Chinese Girl' painted by Qi Zhilong."