American influencer's trip challenges Western misconceptions of China

(ECNS) – The latest viral moment in China-West cultural exchanges has started. A popular American internet influencer "IShowSpeed," who has 37 million subscribers on YouTube, recently livestreamed his visit to China, captivating audiences worldwide.

In just six hours of streaming from Shanghai, he drew an astonishing 5.6 million viewers and tens of thousands of comments.

During his first-ever trip to China, he fully immersed himself in exploring Shanghai and Beijing, donning a traditional floral jacket, watching lion dances, tasting hot pot and the traditional fermented drink ‘douzhi', riding shared bicycles, and even test-driving the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. His excitement was contagious, leaving foreign viewers equally astonished.

For years, Western media, with a "West-centric" perspective, has often distorted and misrepresented China, creating a towering wall of misinformation that has shaped global perceptions.

However, in the digital age, where social media and livestreaming dominate, more independent travelers and influencers are offering unfiltered glimpses of China, challenging long-held stereotypes.

This time, without Western media acting as a middleman to frame the narrative, the raw, continuous livestream by internet star ‘IShowSpeed' left audiences from around the world amazed. Many viewers had assumed China to be backward, closed-off, or chaotic, only to witness a nation that is futuristic, modern, and welcoming. Instead of strictness and suppression, they saw warmth and vibrancy.

In many ways, the livestream served as a panoramic window into China. For many young foreigners, it was a chance to recalibrate their perceptions based on what they saw with their own eyes, rather than narratives shaped by secondhand sources.

In the comments section of IShowSpeed livestream, one foreign viewer left a particularly touching message: ‘Respect to the Chinese people and China; I hope we can live in harmony and set aside political differences.

Such moments of genuine cultural exchange remind us of the power of people-to-people connections. The more interactions like these take place, the more the world will come to understand the real China and its people.

Of course, deep-seated biases and hostility in certain Western circles won't disappear overnight. However, as international exchanges grow and new forms of communication reshape the narrative, an unstoppable shift is underway, which, over time, will bring more truth to light.

At the end of the day, facts speak louder than words. A rapidly developing China will not be shaken by external noise, nor will it shy away from scrutiny.

China welcomes more foreigners to visit and experience it firsthand. They may leave with warmth in their hearts and a fresh perspective in mind.

 (By Gong Weiwei)