Serigne Khabane Lame, 25, embarked on a tour of China on 9/9, visiting cities like Beijing, Tianjin, Nanjing, Chongqing, and Shanghai. Lame is renowned for his short videos, garnering millions of views without dialogue, relying solely on facial expressions and his signature shrug to mock cumbersome and absurd life hacks.

Khaby Lame interacts with people in Tianjin. Photo: China Minutes

Khaby Lame interacts with people in Tianjin. Photo: China Minutes

The TikToker expressed his enjoyment of the trip and even practiced saying "nihao China" to interact with locals. This surprised fans, as it was a rare occasion to hear the "man of few words" speak. Lame also created a Weibo account named "Speechless Brother Khaby Lame", which has attracted over 3 million followers.

In Beijing, the owner of the TikTok channel with over 160 million followers tried on a dragon robe in the Forbidden City and took photos in a Zhongshan suit in front of a red wall. He also visited the Panjiayuan Antique Market, purchasing a folding fan with the calligraphy "Hello China". Khaby encountered someone walking a robot dog and enthusiastically asked to try the experience. The TikToker communicated with locals through an AI translator throughout his trip.

The TikToker visits the Panjiayuan Antique Market. Video: China Daily/Weibo

The next day in the port city of Tianjin, the Senegalese-Italian visitor sported a T-shirt with the words "China old iron" (Northeastern slang for "close friend of China"). When asked if he had any close friends in China, Lame declared everyone his close friend, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

He experienced local cultural activities such as "Kuai ban" (a traditional Chinese storytelling art form) and percussion instruments in folk storytelling performances, made traditional jianbing guozi crepes, and wore a bouffant wig in the style of middle-aged Tianjin women.

The young visitor also played football with the Jiangsu provincial team, visited the Hongshan Zoo, role-played as the main character in the game "Black Myth: Wukong", learned local phrases from voice actor Zhang Jiaming (the voice of Nezha in the film "Nezha"), and tried his hand at decorating traditional lacquerware fans. Lame was impressed with the handcrafted art in Nanjing, describing the skills as "magical".

Trying fish mint root, a Chongqing specialty with a pungent and polarizing taste, the TikToker winced slightly upon first bite, but maintained composure, declaring it "not bad". Khaby Lame also learned how to stir-fry spicy hot pot seasonings, even tearing up from the intensity.

Shanghai captivated the TikToker with its blend of ancient and modern elements. "Modern cities often demolish old structures to build skyscrapers, but Shanghai retains its old charm, both captivating and embodying the modern financial center of the country," Lame remarked, noting the city's stylish residents, saying they all looked like they worked for Vogue.

Khaby Lame's trip, like those of other young global influencers, reflects the growing appeal of Chinese tourism and contributes to attracting international visitors to the nation. According to Kuaishou, China's second-largest short video sharing platform, the TikToker will continue to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, in southern China on 17/9.

The 2024-2025 International Tourism Report by the China Tourism Academy shows that 131.9 million international tourists visited China in 2024, a 61% increase compared to the same period the previous year. This includes 26.94 million foreign visitors (a 96% increase) thanks to visa-free policies applied to 63 countries.

Lame decorates a lacquer fan, cooks spicy hot pot, and makes crepes. Video: Xingye Zhuiguang, Ye Jianxun/Weibo

Social media has become a key tool in promoting tourism. With a large influx of international tourists to China, platforms like YouTube and TikTok transform personal experiences into globally shared stories.

Similarly, the trip of American YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr. in March of this year also created a significant impact on social media. The owner of the "IShowSpeed" channel with over 44 million followers livestreamed his journey from Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing to Shenzhen. The opening livestream in Shanghai attracted 5.6 million views.

Khaby Lame expressed his eagerness to create vlogs about his travels in China, using his personal experiences to promote the country's image and people, and to help the nation connect with other countries as friends.

"I feel a simple happiness in China and want to convey that to everyone," Lame stated, expressing his desire to continue building bridges of friendship between nations worldwide.

Ha Phuong (According to China Daily, SCMP, Global Times)