(ECNS) -- Darren Watkins Jr, the 20-year-old U.S. influencer known as IShowSpeed, has easily crushed the efforts of the U.S. government, which spent an astonishing amount of more than $1.6 billion to "counter Chinese 'malign influence'".
Amid the recent influx of tourists flocking to China, the young influencer with 37 million YouTube followers embarked on his journey to China, livestreaming for six hours on his first day here in Shanghai.
Unlike the Western mainstream media outlets, which have always been devoting themselves to smearing China, IShowSpeed's down-to-earth videos are showing his fans from all over the world an unfiltered China.
His videos captured a China experiencing rapid technological advancement. Glasses with real-time translation capabilities, seamless 5G-enabled live streaming on high-speed trains, the SU7 Ultra electric vehicle offering 1,500 horsepower, and the convenience of electronic payments all astonished him on his stay here. His reactions not only shattered some foreign audiences' ignorance about China's technological development, but also reflected a growing curiosity from local Chinese people about some technological applications too.
With tech embedded into the background, IShowSpeed also illustrated a China with a long history and diverse culture to his followers too. From wearing colorful China's northeastern big flower jacket, to watching a lion dance, experiencing acupuncture, and even learning Shaolin Kung Fu, the young American immersed himself with open-mindedness, deeply experiencing and sharing the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
Beyond cutting-edge technology and profound culture, China's charm also lies in human connections. He visited a matchmaking corner in Shanghai, played table tennis, filmed videos with the elderly on the streets, had a dance battle with strangers, and went to taste spicy hot pot in Chongqing. All these interactions with ordinary Chinese people have naturally showcased their warmth and relaxed vibe.
In a livestream post with six million views on YouTube, a comment which had thousands of likes read: "The China haters are fuming. Speed is debunking all their propaganda about China in 6 hours." This comment from an American viewer perfectly captured the online frenzy sparked by IShowSpeed's China trip.
The Chinese embassy in the U.S. cited IShowSpeed's footage to extend an invitation to Americans to visit China and see beyond the headlines. Living in a social-media era, Darren successfully bypassed geopolitical narratives and presented an unfiltered, authentic China to his global audience through vivid videos. What's more, he is now expected to be a role model for more ordinary people to emulate, which will eventually dismantle U.S.' expensive smear campaigns and information blockades against China.
However, as IShowSpeed's livestream goes viral, some cast doubts and played the same old trick by calling him "China's puppet". To refute these allegations, his team released bank statements to prove the budget of this trip had nothing to do with China. Actually, prior to arriving in China, he had completed streaming tours in Southeast Asia, South America, Europe, Australia, and India.
IShowSpeed's genuine curiosity and passion for China have won support from ordinary Chinese people both in China and around the world. His story reminds us that regardless of origin, a heart willing to explore the unknown can forge the most sincere bonds of friendship between people.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
京公網安備 11010202009201號