In recent days, American internet sensation IShowSpeed, affectionately by Chinese netizens, has taken global social media by storm with his livestreams from the streets of China. His candid series, dubbed "Real China", has become a trending topic across platforms, surprising international audiences.
Transparency
With over 37 million followers, 'IShowSpeed's unscripted, unfiltered livestreams have offered a refreshing window into everyday China-both the glittering skyline of the Bund and spicy hotpot feasts in Chengdu, Shaolin kung fu displays and Chinese square dancing at the foot of the Great Wall. Through his lens, China breaks free from outdated stereotypes of being "backward" or "threatening," often perpetuated in some Western narratives. Instead, it emerges as a vibrant, diverse, and dynamic modern civilization. Viewers around the world were quick to respond, "This totally upended long-held perception of China," commented one, while another marveled, "Chinese cities feel more cyberpunk than New York!" and "The people are so warm and funny!"
In recent years, global online exchanges, including comparing the cost of living between Chinese and American netizens on Xiaohongshu, and ordinary families' cross-border meetups, have gained viral traction. These people-to-people interactions strip away the noise of geopolitical rivalry, revealing instead a shared human resonance: the joy of good food, the awe of technology, and laughter that transcends borders.
As China expands its visa-free policies and streamlines entry procedures, more foreign visitors like IShowSpeed are discovering the country on their own terms. During the 2025 Chinese New Year, inbound tourism to China surged by 150% year-on-year, with the Republic of Korea even seeing a trend of flying to Shanghai after work.
The global attention sparked by this livestream is not just a traffic-driven event, but a leap for China from being "told" to "actively telling its own story." It shows the world that China has both the grandeur of the Forbidden City and the modernity of Lujiazui, both traditional kung fu and the warmth of street life.
Source: Lingnan on the Cloud
“甲亢哥”火出圈：一场跨越偏见的全球对话
近日，美国超人气网红“甲亢哥”（IShowSpeed）在中国街头直播引发全球关注。“Real China”（真正的中国）迅速成为国际互联网热词，外国网友直呼大开眼界。
这位拥有3700万粉丝的主播，以无剧本、零滤镜的方式记录旅程，从外滩夜景到成都火锅，从少林功夫到长城脚下广场舞，在“甲亢哥”的镜头里，中国不再是西方媒体笔下被“落后”与“威胁”标签绑架的符号，而是一个鲜活、多元、充满生命力的现代文明体。这些未经剪辑的片段，让外国网友直呼“颠覆认知”：“原来中国的城市比纽约更赛博朋克”“这里的人竟如此热情幽默”。
近年来，从“中美网友小红书对账”到普通家庭“跨国奔现”，越来越多民间互动在全球走红。这种民间交往，剥离了政治博弈的杂音，回归到人性最本真的共鸣——对美食的喜爱、对科技的惊叹、对幽默的会心一笑。
随着中国主动扩大免签政策，优化入境服务，越来越多像“甲亢哥”这样的外国友人用脚步丈量中国大地。2025年春节期间，中国入境游客同比增长150%，韩国甚至兴起“下班飞上海”的潮流。
这场由直播引发的全球关注，不只是流量事件，更是中国从“被讲述”走向“主动表达”的一次跨越。它让世界看到，中国既有故宫的厚重，也有陆家嘴的现代，既有传统功夫，也有街头人情。
文｜孔德淇
视频｜温泽广 黎杰文 曾潇
译 | 杨钧雅
英文审校 | 林佳岱
