YouTuber IShowSpeed has once again made headlines after performing a backflip during his visit to The Great Wall of China as part of his streaming tour in the Asian country, which began in Shanghai on Monday, March 24. While such a stunt at one of the Seven Wonders of the World might have drawn criticism from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the reaction has been quite the opposite. China’s state-run Global Times recently published an op-ed praising the streamer for showcasing a side of the country that is "rarely highlighted" in the U.S.
"The tour has sparked a wave of international interest, particularly among youth, who are being exposed to a side of China rarely highlighted in U.S. mainstream narratives," the report stated.
"Some experts said the phenomenon indicated a broader trend of digital influencers bridging cultural gaps, bringing alternative channels for foreign audiences to understand a real China," it added.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington celebrated the response to IShowSpeed’s visit by posting about him on their official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The 20-year-old popular American YouTuber #IShowSpeed @ishowspeedsuii has kicked off a journey in #China that has already garnered massive global attention, which indicates a broader trend of digital influencers bridging cultural gaps and creating alternative channels for… pic.twitter.com/4FiBXSdaDU
— Chinese Embassy in US (@ChineseEmbinUS) March 26, 2025
The U.S. content creator, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., is known for his spontaneous and freestyle approach to exploring countries. Speed livestreams to his nearly 37 million followers, documenting his experiences and interactions with locals in real time.
As of the last update, his Shanghai stream had garnered 5.9 million views on YouTube, while his Beijing broadcast racked up 4.5 million views within hours of ending—each lasting over six hours.
| BREAKING: Speed is OFFICIALLY the FIRST PERSON EVER to BACKFLIP on the GREAT WALL of CHINA
速比正式成为第一个在中国长城上做后空翻的人 pic.twitter.com/O89OQ3k5Jy
— Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) March 26, 2025
Social Media Reacts
Reacting to the CCP’s admiration for Speed, social media users joked that he was doing more for global peace than politicians.
"Bro single-handedly making people in the U.S. want to go visit China," said one user, while another added, "Speed out here making peace between the most powerful countries in the world."
A third commented, "I have been pleasantly surprised with this whole ordeal and am glad it is bringing our countries closer together 🙂 we could have a great friendship!"
Before his China tour, Speed completed streaming tours in Southeast Asia, South America, Europe, Australia, and India. He has even met world leaders, including the Prime Minister of Albania. In Peru, he was briefly crowned the mayor of Lima after meeting the actual mayor, Rafael López Aliaga.
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