Story by CGTN's Han Bin
China has a growing number of celebrities known as “Wang Hong”, a term reserved specifically for those who become renowned through the Internet.
They attract millions of fans by creating original content on social media, and often become key opinion leaders. In this episode of "What Is China?”, CGTN reporter Han Bin looks at the boom in the Internet celebrity industry.
The 25-year-old rap star MC Tianyou is already a millionaire. As a cyber celebrity in China, he's gained 16 million followers since he began live streaming two years ago.
With only a computer, a microphone, and communication savvy, Tianyou started building his miracle at home – live streaming for two hours a day.
His strong personality and outspoken views, as well his distinctive northern Chinese accent, have attracted a huge following. Most of his fans are from the grassroots of society. Tianyou says one of the keys to his success is keeping fan loyalty.
Wang Tuo is Tianyou’s agent and a long-time friend. The Internet has not changed his life as much as Tianyou's. But he is living a big dream, too. He wants to help his friend create new miracles in a time of change.
The arrival of social media in China a decade ago, together with increasing Internet access, has allowed many ordinary young people, like Tianyou, to become celebrities. The live streaming industry is huge, creating a miracle of online economy.
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