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From California to Shandong — the “second home” of an American blogger

From California to Shandong — the “second home” of an American blogger

Published on: 2026-05-22

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Dylan Norman from the American state of California is affectionately called “Lay Ge” (Brother Lay) by Chinese internet users. He has been living in the city of Zhichao in Shandong province for 20 years. He has not only become a “foreign son-in-law,” but also makes videos about local customs and culture, gathering more than 1.7 million subscribers. He says that China is his second homeland, and he hopes to live here forever.

In 2006, Ryan came to China to work in the field of international trade, started a family in Zhichao, and became a “foreign son-in-law” settled in this city. Three years ago, he started filming local customs and life in Zhichao with friends. After the short videos were published on social media, they quickly became popular.

Zhichzhao is located on the coast of the Yellow Sea and possesses rich marine tourism resources. In addition to creating short videos, Ryan runs a cafe by the sea, leading a calm and fulfilling life.

This year marks 20 years since his arrival in China. Over these 20 years, he has witnessed the rapid development of China. Now he speaks Chinese fluently and is well acquainted with the customs and traditions of Shandong.

Now he spends a lot of time every day communicating with foreign clients, selling Chinese steel and other products abroad. In his opinion, the Chinese market is a large platform, and the rapid growth of China’s economy opens up huge opportunities for businessmen and companies from various countries.

Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate report of what the source asserts and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.