Khaby Lame's art of silence dazzles

In a world often divided by language and cultural barriers, Khaby Lame — the Italian-Senegalese influencer and TikTok's most-followed content creator — believes in the power of silence.

With around 260 million cross-platform followers worldwide, Lame is currently on a tour of China that has led him to Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

"Humor and happiness are my way to connect with the world," Lame told China Daily in an exclusive interview in Shanghai.

His signature videos — responding to overly complicated life hacks with a deadpan stare followed by simple solutions — have become an internationally recognised language. Through gestures, facial expressions and wordless humor, he offers international audiences an unfiltered glimpse of contemporary Chinese society, turning casual street interactions or food tastings into relatable stories that transcend cultural gaps.

"One of the values of my videos is that silence can reach everybody," the 25-year-old explained. "You don't have to talk to make content. My videos are accessible for all countries — you don't have to know the language, because I don't speak. So they are available for everybody, for all ages and for all people."

Since arriving in Beijing on Sept 9, Lame has wasted no time exploring local culture: making jianbing guozi, Tianjin's savory pancake; dribbling a soccer ball with players from the popular Jiangsu Football City League; strolling along Shanghai's iconic tree-lined Wukang Road; and even cosplaying as a lead character from Black Myth, Wukong, an internationally acclaimed Chinese video game.

Lame said his experience in China has given him a way to express himself while also learning from Chinese people.

Shanghai, in particular, left a lasting impression.

"Usually, when cities modernize, they kind of forget their past; they destroy old things to build new buildings or other stuff. But I love that Shanghai preserves its original charm while still being modern," Lame said.

He also noted the city's unique vibe: "People in Shanghai have a fast pace of work and life, and they are so stylish — everyone looks like they work for Vogue magazine."

Lame is part of a growing wave of foreign content creators exploring China, following Darren Jason Watkins Jr, a streamer from the United States known to Chinese fans as IShowSpeed, or jiakang ge. He traveled across China from late March to early April, livestreaming adventures in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen. His opening broadcast in Shanghai drew 5.6 million viewers.

From marveling at China's 350 kilometers per hour high-speed trains to tasting fermented soybean milk, IShowSpeed's unscripted moments challenged stereotypes, earning praise from the Chinese embassy in the US, which said his content "bridges cultural gaps and creates alternative channels for foreign audiences to understand a vibrant China".

Lame shares similar goals, using light-hearted, human-centered content to challenge stereotypes and connect China with the world.

"I can't wait to make my own vlog and show the whole world how interesting and nice China is, and how colorful and warm the people in China are," said Lame, dubbed wuyu ge, or speechless brother, by Chinese netizens. "My hope is that by passing on these experiences, I can help China and other countries come closer as friends."

This trend aligns with a broader revival in China's inbound tourism. According to the China Tourism Academy's 2024-2025 inbound tourism report, 2024 saw 131.9 million inbound visitors, a 61 percent year-on-year increase, with 26.94 million foreign travelers, up 96 percent, benefiting from visa-free policies covering 63 countries.

Social media has become a key enabler of this exchange. As large numbers of international tourists visit China, platforms such as You-Tube and TikTok turn personal experiences into global stories.

"I hope to continue building bridges of friendship between nations, one smile at a time," Lame said.

As Lame continues his ongoing multi-city journey, he is already planning to deepen his connection with China.

"In China, I felt how powerful simple happiness can be," Lame said. "With my vlogs, I want to carry these feelings to more people, so they can see and share the same warmth."

Yang Yi contributed to this story.