Iraqi vlogger sees happiness, peace in China

Iraqi food vlogger Ahmed Mohammed Jaber who has gained millions of fans in China, shared his views on the country, saying that he sees happiness and peace in Chinese cities, and he feels like he was reborn in the country.

Dressed in a smart suit, Ahmed Mohammed Jaber talks to the camera in Mandarin with an accent, commencing his latest food tasting vlog. Ahmed, also known by the Chinese name Wang Lixuan, hails from Iraq though it is the food vlogger's tenth year in China.

Born in 1994, Ahmed's childhood memories were filled with the agonies of war and displacement. In 2014, he moved to China.

In 2018, Ahmed took part in a video training competition and learned basic video editing and content managing skills. Later, during a trip, he recorded himself as he enjoyed the local food while making comments. He uploaded the video online, where it attracted a large number of viewers.

Encouraged by this success, Ahmed went on to produce more food tasting videos, which received positive feedback. The Mandarin-speaking Iraqi food vlogger's popularity gradually grew among Chinese internet users.

In China, he has always been treated as a friend with people's greetings and smiles. Ahmed said that China gives him a real home.

"When I meet people in China and say 'hello' to them, they always get back to me with a series of greetings. People are passionate here, and they always give me smiles, then give me many tips, and tell me the things I want to know. Every place and ancient city I visited, all cultures there are talking about peace," he said.

Being in China for 10 years, Ahmed witnessed China's development in different aspects. In his videos, he introduces China's mobile payment, e-commerce, and cities' changes to his followers from other parts of the world.

"I have been to many airports in China. Flights there changed from domestic ones to international ones. Many cities in China have high-speed railways now, and many places didn't have metros but now they have," Ahmed introduced in his vlog.

Ahmed said China's development opened his horizon, and the 10-year-stay in China makes him feel like a rebirth.

"I don't allow my friends to say I'm 30 years old, they can only say I'm 10 years old. Because after coming to China, I really feel like I was born again. The past ten years in China have opened my eyes," he said.

Ahmed hopes to expand his video subjects to cover more aspects of China in the future, and to help the world better understand the country he treats as a second home.

"Our team put my videos on an overseas website called 'the Iraqi in China', so that people can gradually know about China through my simple expressions, and they can see a beautiful, real, and peaceful China," he said.

Iraqi vlogger sees happiness, peace in China

Daming, an ancient county in north China's Hebei Province, has witnessed a surge in tourist inflow so far in the week-long National Day holiday which started on October 1, fueled by a thriving night-time economy featuring a diverse range of attractions from dazzling light shows to bustling night markets.

As the night unfolded, the Daming Stone Carving Museum would be packed with visitors eager to see a spectacular light display. When the clock strikes seven, buildings inside the complex would be illuminated with stunning light beams, eliciting cheers from the delighted crowds.

Outside the museum, the cultural district would be buzzing with visitors strolling beneath glowing red lanterns. Nearby, the night market captivates tourists with stalls offering unique local delicacies and traditional crafts as well as interactive games and live performances.

"We just watched an immersive cultural performance, and it was fantastic. We learned about history while enjoying the beautiful scenery, and the lighting here is truly gorgeous," said He Yudi, a tourist.

Daming and local characters hold a prominent place in classic Chinese novel series "Outlaws of the Marsh," inspiring the tourism department to develop cultural projects rooted in this renowned literary work which tells the story of 108 outlaws who band together in the Liangshan Marsh to fight against corruption and injustice in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

"We have taken various measures to attract more tourists, such as issuing consumption coupons and organizing cultural activities that integrate the 'Outlaws of the Marsh' elements and immersive experiences," said Ma Rui, the night market operation manager.

Official data showed that Daming County received a daily average of more than 300,000 tourist visits during the first three days of the National Day holiday.

Vibrant night economy sparks tourism boom in Chinese county during National Day holiday