In early 2025, American influencer Darren Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed, embarked on a multi-week tour across China, livestreaming his adventures to millions of viewers. What was the impact?
Watkins captivated millions in the West with unfiltered glimpses of modernity and hospitality, challenging stereotypes and sparking curiosity about China as a tourist destination.
What began as a high-energy travel series quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon, amassing tens of millions of views on platforms like YouTube and sparking widespread discussion on Western social media.
Speed’s raw enthusiasm, punctuated by viral outbursts like ”This is the future!” in Shenzhen, offered Western audiences a vivid, people-centred glimpse of modern China, challenging long-held stereotypes and subtly boosting the country’s appeal as a tourist destination.
Speed’s journey kicked off in March 2025, visiting cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. His streams featured classic tourist highlights, such as performing a backflip on the Great Wall, alongside immersive experiences like tasting fiery Sichuan hotpot and cutting-edge technology.
IShowSpeed’s genuine approach
These moments, often chaotic but genuine, resonated deeply. In Shenzhen, dubbed the ”Silicon Valley of China,” Speed’s wide-eyed reactions to futuristic gadgets and infrastructure, such as real-time translation glasses and advanced EVs, went viral, with clips racking up millions of views.
His culinary adventures, including dramatic struggles with ultra-spicy dishes, humanised the experience further. Crowds of enthusiastic fans mobbed him in every city, underscoring China’s youth culture and hospitality.
The impact on Western social media was profound. Speed’s streams accumulated over 35 million views on YouTube alone for key episodes, with clips proliferating on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit. Western commenters frequently expressed surprise:
”This man is doing the lord’s work in dispelling all of the western propaganda about China,” one viral post read.
Others noted China’s modernity, safety, and warmth, contrasting sharply with narratives of oppression or stagnation often dominant in U.S. media.
”His lens revealed a nation so starkly divergent from typical Western caricatures that it made many viewers confront the uncomfortable truth that their perception of China had been systematically distorted.” – China Daily
Analysts and outlets like the Lowy Institute and Global Times hailed it as a ”soft power win” for China, organic, unscripted, and far more effective than state-orchestrated campaigns. Speed himself declared China his ”all-time favourite country” visited, citing the fun and welcoming atmosphere. This authenticity amplified reach among Gen Z audiences, Speed’s core demographic, who are increasingly sceptical of traditional news sources.
Regarding perceptions of China as a country and tourist destination, the ripple effects were significant. Viewers commented on the ”underrated” beauty of cities like Chongqing’s cyberpunk skyline and the seamless blend of ancient sites (e.g., Forbidden City) with hyper-modern infrastructure (high-speed trains, cashless payments).
Phrases like ”China is awesome” and plans to visit surged in comment sections. Reports from CGTN and China Daily highlighted how Speed’s tour fueled ”China Travel” trends, aligning with Beijing’s visa-free policies to boost inbound tourism.
While not without minor controversies, such as isolated cultural missteps or awkward fan interactions, the overall narrative shifted positively. For many young Westerners, Speed’s tour provided their first ”unfiltered” exposure, portraying China as dynamic, innovative, and approachable rather than distant or adversarial.
In an era of U.S.-China tensions, Speed’s accidental diplomacy via livestream proved potent: entertainment transcending politics. As one expert noted, it reduced misconceptions and revealed a ”modern, culturally rich” nation. Whether this sparks a sustained tourism boom remains to be seen, but for now, IShowSpeed has undeniably made China ”cool” to a new generation in the West.
Related
- IShowSpeed in China on YouTube
- NewsVoice: articles about China
- Travel: Applyforchina.com
