Published on: 2026-06-04
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Video blogger Chen Zhui, known by the pseudonym Ryan Chen, is a native resident of Chongqing, and his studio is located near one of Chongqing’s iconic landmarks — the monorail that passes through a building at Liziba station. In recent years, foreigners with cameras and smartphones can often be seen behind the windows of his studio — their faces glowing with curiosity and amazement. “Earlier, foreign tourists only briefly viewed the sights for new impressions, but now they strive to see the ‘inner essence’ of Chongqing and get acquainted with the lifestyle of local residents.”
At the beginning of 2024, Chen Zhui started publishing short scientific-popular videos in English on the short video platform, dedicated to intercultural topics. Thanks to American pronunciation combined with the local style, he managed to “go beyond his narrow niche” and attract more than 8 million subscribers both in China and abroad. Having become popular on the Internet, he often received collaboration offers from foreign bloggers, among whom was American chef and culinary blogger Joshua Weissman.
Joshua has more than ten million followers on social media. Before his trip to Chongqing, he made a list for the “one-dollar snack challenge.” “He wants to try street food that the residents of Chongqing have been eating since childhood,” said Chen Zhui, showing Joshua around the old streets of Chongqing. At a stall where there were only a few low stools, Joshua noticed: “This is quite different from what I used to eat in Chinese restaurants in Chinatown. Only by coming to China can you truly experience Chinese culinary culture.”
In addition to popular bloggers, Chen Zhui often receives requests and reviews from ordinary foreign tourists. “The development and progress of Chinese technology in recent years has amazed many foreigners. They see how automatic delivery robots in hotels independently turn in corridors, ride elevators, deliver food to guests, and can record this on camera for eternity,” says Chen Zhui.
“In recent years, I have gained more followers, but in fact, I am just ‘profiting’ from the popularity of Chongqing,” says Chen Zhui. In recent years, Chongqing has been actively promoting itself as a globally renowned tourist destination, precisely focusing on the real needs of foreign tourists and successfully building an image of an attractive tourist and cultural center.Li Zhenchen, head of the Committee for the Development of Culture and Tourism of the Yuichjun district of Chongqing city, noted that local authorities are consistently improving the single window service — in particular, they address issues most relevant to foreign tourists: payment, transport, and communication. Thanks to these measures, in 2025, the number of foreign tourists staying overnight increased by 107.3% compared to the previous year.
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