American internet celebrity IShowSpeed (affectionately nicknamed "Jiakang ge", which means "Hyperactive Bro" in Chinese) embarked on a trip to China in March, presenting the world with an image of a vibrant, clean, culturally rich, and technologically advanced country. Among his livestreams across major cities, Chongqing left a particularly striking impression. Experiencing the "8D magic mountain city" up close not only made IShowSpeed fall in love with Chongqing but also left countless overseas viewers exclaiming, "Amazing!" Behind this successful livestream was the contribution of a Chongqing photographer.
Lu Jinjin, a Chongqing local, served as the guide for IShowSpeed's Chongqing travel. Having studied abroad in Canada during high school and graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in film, Lu returned to his hometown years later and found it both familiar and unfamiliar. Whether in the aspect of architecture, transport planning, culture, or cuisine, Chongqing stood out as unique on the world stage. "Yet in the English-speaking world, the word 'Chongqing' remains largely unfamiliar, rarely mentioned." As a photographer with a solid command of English, Lu decided to open his own account on overseas platforms, hoping to use his lens and language to showcase the distinctive charm of his mountainous hometown and introduce Chongqing to the global audience.
Thanks to the location along the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers—bold yet nuanced, and enriched by its riverside culture in Lu's eyes, Chongqing's pace of life is relaxed. One can chase the latest trends or just go out in flip-flops." Chongqing is also open-minded. With an increasing number of foreign visitors, the city's streets now buzz with a mix of languages—English, Chongqing dialect, Mandarin, and various regional accents. Lu recalled that when he first started filming short videos, speaking English in public made him self-conscious. "I used to worry about people staring and felt awkward, but Chongqing's inclusive atmosphere eventually put me at ease." Chongqing is also refreshingly straightforward. "There's not much trickery here." For instance, in popular tourist areas, signs bluntly warn visitors: Don't trust street solicitors or pay for unsolicited guides. These are the authentic aspects of Chongqing that Lu wants to capture and share with the world.
Initially, Lu set a small goal: to make and post 45 short videos within two months, aiming for "one video per day." Though it ended up taking him six months to complete the 45 videos, he has successfully gained his first 450,000 followers. One video about Chongqing's cyberpunk cityscape has made a splash and earned him nearly a million views. One commenter shared that they had visited Chongqing in the 1980s and were thrilled to see how modern and beautiful it had become. The strong reaction from international viewers moved and surprised Lu. His original intent was simply to share Chongqing's beauty—"I never expected it to resonate so deeply with people who'd never even heard of the city before."
Lu describes himself as a "photography blogger focused on Chongqing traveling." He believes that a fundamental skill in this field is knowing the city's layout well enough to navigate quickly—an advantage that made him the perfect guide for IShowSpeed's Chongqing trip. Recalling the "crazy" livestream, Lu revealed that the first stop was Kuixinglou Plaza, where frenzied fans blocked every exit, making it nearly impossible to move. Familiar with the area, Lu quickly led IShowSpeed through a lesser-known path connected to a hospital, bypassing the crowd and ensuring the rest of the tour went smoothly. They explored Chongqing's streets and alleys, ranging from watching the light rail pass through buildings at Liziba Station, riding the Crown Escalator, to taking in river views on the Yangtze River Cableway, and cruising the Two Rivers to admire the city's nightscape. Following Lu's carefully planned route, IShowSpeed exclaims in amazement at every turn, and the arrangements earned widespread praise from viewers.
Lu's photography style is natural, favoring unfiltered shots to convey Chongqing's beauty. He hopes to use his visual language to show international audiences a genuine, unvarnished China. "When you portray China as truly beautiful and fascinating, foreigners will naturally grow to love it and want to visit."
(Reporters: Frank, Sammi; Filming: Fung, Qian; Editor: Fung; Executive Producer: Tracy; English Translation: Zeng Shiwei; English Editors: Darius Zhao)
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