IShowSpeed's China Journey: Breaking Prejudice with Authenticity

Recently, the China livestreaming journey of “IShowSpeed” – a post-2000 American internet celebrity with tens of millions of followers on social media – has exploded across the internet like a “digital diplomacy experiment” that spans cultures and borders.

This young influencer employs a “one-take” filming style to showcase China’s high-speed rail, Shaolin kung fu, and the vibrant everyday scenes to a global audience, with each livestream consistently attracting over a million viewers. Even the Chinese Embassy in the United States has praised him, stating: “This 20-year-old popular American influencer is bridging cultural gaps through digital means and creating new channels for foreign audiences to understand China.” This phenomenon not only validates the power of individual storytelling in the new media era but also reveals that genuine personal experiences and emotional interactions are the most effective ways to break down prejudices.

The reason why IShowSpeed’s livestreams have attracted attention worldwide lies in the unfiltered authenticity and the relatable, humorous language in his personal narratives. For instance, at the Shaolin Temple, he grimaced in pain while learning from a master, yet he gleaned Eastern philosophy from the teacher’s remark, “This is pain, but this is kung fu.” In Chongqing, while checking in at the Liziba light rail station, the typically talkative young man was so astonished that his mouth was wide open as if it could hold an egg. When foreign viewers witnessed his smooth livestream on a high speed train traveling at 350 km/h, one comment read, “I can’t even load text in the stinky New York subway, yet here you are, livestreaming in 2K on a Chinese bullet train without a hitch.” These reactions are natural expressions based on firsthand experiences.

IShowSpeed shocked by China’s high speed train

This “filter-free” display of authenticity offers a more direct and powerful way to tell China’s story and shape its global image.

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And this power of authenticity is not an isolated case. In 2020, Li Ziqi showcased China’s traditional cuisine and handicrafts through pastoral lifestyle videos, at one point even surpassing CNN in terms of social media subscriptions, and sparking spontaneous admiration for China among overseas viewers. In early 2025, a surge of international users flooded Xiaohongshu to engage in conversations with Chinese youth—from “Why do Chinese people love hotpot?” to “How can I learn Chinese through pinyin?” – turning seemingly trivial daily topics into gateways for cross-cultural understanding. Much like IShowSpeed’s popular livestreams, these examples reflect a warmer, more relatable China that is increasingly inviting foreign friends to become ambassadors of genuine connection.

Li Ziqi showcased China’s tradition through lifestyle videos

The smooth tour has been made possible by China’s comprehensive open-door policies. Since 2023, China has continuously expanded its visa-free “circle of friends,” and the “China Travel” campaign has been booming, attracting more foreign tourists to come and experience China firsthand. On April 1, 2025, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a press conference: “We welcome more international friends to personally experience the liveliness and vitality of new-era China.”

During his livestream, IShowSpeed remarked, “From the security guards at the Forbidden City in Beijing to the hotpot restaurant owners in Chengdu, everyone smiles at me.” True national relations are built on people-to-people bonds, and such bonds are forged through heartfelt mutual understanding.

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