You might not recognize his name, but chances are you’ve seen his face. Khaby Lame, TikTok’s most followed influencer, rose to fame after losing his job during the COVID-19 pandemic. He started posting reaction videos poking fun at overcomplicated “life hacks” by demonstrating straightforward solutions, accompanied by his trademark hand gesture and deadpan expression. His silent humor quickly went viral on Chinese social media, where netizens dubbed him “Brother Speechless.”
Earlier this year, when TikTok faced the threat of shutdown, a wave of “TikTok Refugees” migrated to RedNote, with many of them being Western influencers. Lame became a RedNote regular in July, sharing his skits and vlogs and interacting with his Chinese fans. This month, Lame embarked on his first trip to China. Starting in Beijing, he’s since made stops in Nanjing, Shanghai, and Chongqing, while streaming his adventures on Kuaishou, the country’s largest live streaming platform.
Along the way, Lame has tried his hand at the kuaiban (快板, a traditional rhythmic instrument), sampled street foods like jianbing guozi (煎饼果子, a crispy egg and scallion wrap), and tasted the zhe er gen (折耳根, a pungent root vegetable). Beyond food and culture, Lame has also collaborated with popular creators such as Ryan Chen, the Chinese Trump.
Lame isn’t the only Western influencer turning their attention towards China. In March, streamer IShowSpeed also visited the country, drawing massive media attention and a surge in local followers. More and more Western influencers are making similar trips, eager to showcase Chinese culture to a global audience while challenging stereotypes. With China’s expansion of offering visa-free entry to over 70 countries, the trend of global creators exploring China is only set to grow.
Cover image via RedNote.
