Khaby Lame, the Senegalese-Italian influencer and the most-followed creator on TikTok, has captured huge attention in China after beginning his tour of the country on September 9.
Lame, who has 162 million TikTok followers, is best known for his silent skits mocking overly complicated life hacks. His trademark wordless reactions have earned him the nickname “Speechless Brother,” or wuyu ge in Chinese. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at around US$20 million.
Since arriving in Beijing, the 25-year-old has embraced Chinese culture with enthusiasm. At the Palace Museum, he wore an emperor’s dragon robe and posed in front of its red walls in a Zhongshan suit — a moment fans dubbed his “life photo.” He also bought a folding fan inscribed with the phrase nihao Zhongguo (“Hello China”) from the Panjiayuan Antique Market, where a vendor recognized him from his viral stickers.
His travels then took him to Tianjin, where he wore a T-shirt that read “China old iron,” a northeastern slang expression meaning “China’s good friend.” He tried local specialties such as kuai ban (traditional clappers used by storytellers), cooked the famous jianbing guozi crepe, and even sported a wig styled like the iconic “Tianjin auntie” hairstyle. While preparing the crepe, he joked that putting pineapple on pizza should be “illegal,” drawing laughs from onlookers.
On September 11, Lame visited Nanjing in Jiangsu province, where he played soccer with a local team and explored the Hongshan Forest Zoo, known for its animal-friendly habitats. Throughout his trip, his signature facial expressions and gestures delighted fans, who suggested turning them into new stickers. One fan remarked: “I didn’t know Speechless Brother could speak.” Another wrote: “Thank you for enriching my sticker collection.”
Lame’s Chinese social media account, “Speechless Brother Khaby Lame,” has already attracted more than three million followers. His journey is far from over — he plans to visit Chongqing and Guangzhou in the coming days.
Chinese state media, including Global Times and China News Service, have closely followed his tour, calling it a reflection of China’s growing cultural influence. Earlier this year, American streamer Darren “IShowSpeed” also caused a sensation during his two-week visit to China.
