China ‘freedom ambassador’ transforms from builder to travel blogger, has 25 million followers
Moneymaking 33-year-old exponent of online gaming turns globetrotter, allows fans to live vicariously through his hugely popular videos
An internet-addicted, working-class teenager from a debt-ridden family in China has transformed himself into a top influencer with 25 million followers, creating a social media legend along the way.
Lan Zhanfei, 33, has been dubbed “the freest man on the internet” and “the ambassador of freedom” thanks to the huge popularity of videos of him travelling at home and abroad, The Cover reported.
On September 22, Lan was among the most searched news items in China because he said during a live-stream that he could easily earn 100 million yuan (US$14 million) a year.
Lan comes from a poor family in Luoding, Guangdong province, southern China.
His father died of a heart attack when he was at secondary school, and his mother sank into depression. He has a younger sister.