XI’AN: As many Chinese influencers capture the colorful city life on social media, some content creators have turned their cameras toward the tranquil countryside, embracing the flourishing influencer economy and breathing new life into rural areas.
In a peaceful farmyard, an elderly couple prepares local dishes on a wood-fired stove. A rooster paces around the yard and crows, a cat curls up in the corner, and sparrows chirp from the branches. This picturesque scene is a hallmark of the account run by Zhang Wanlu on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
With over 2 million followers, these simple yet idyllic video clips not only offer a glimpse into rural life in the city of Ankang in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, but also support local farmers to promote their unique agricultural products.
China’s government work report released earlier this month vowed to undertake efforts to invigorate rural development and increase rural incomes.
Born in 1990, Zhang was raised by his grandparents in a small village in Ankang. In his 20s, he explored various jobs across different provinces, but each attempt ended in failure.
After returning home, he noticed the rise of video-sharing and streaming platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou and Bilibili, and he decided to join the growing trend of vloggers in 2018. –Agencies
