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News18
a day ago
- News18
A Free 10-Day Luxury Tour Of China, But You're Eligible Only If You're From This Country
Last Updated: China invites social media influencers from the United States for a fully-funded 10-day trip in July to reshape global perceptions and showcase the "real China" In a move that blends diplomacy, digital strategy, and tourism, China is rolling out the red carpet for social media influencers from the United States, offering a fully-funded 10-day trip in July 2025. The initiative, part of the China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Program, is aimed at reshaping global perceptions and showcasing what Beijing calls the 'real China". At a time when tensions between the US and China remain high over issues like trade and technology, the program appears to be China's soft-power counteroffensive, targeting Gen Z and millennial audiences not through formal press briefings, but through influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers. Influencers selected for the program will be treated as state guests and given special assistance with the visa process. But the invitation is not open to everyone. According to College Daily, a media outlet catering to Chinese students in North America, the eligibility criteria include being based in the United States, having a clean record, and demonstrating a fondness for Chinese culture. Most crucially, applicants must have at least 3,00,000 followers on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or X (formerly Twitter), and be active across multiple platforms. Participants will travel to five cities – Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan, and Beijing – where they'll explore e-commerce hubs, visit corporate giants like Xiaohongshu and BYD, engage in cultural activities such as Taichi, and even live-stream from the Great Wall of China. Their content will be amplified by Chinese state-affiliated media, ensuring it reaches a wide global audience. Though positioned as a cultural exchange program, the initiative is seen by many analysts as part of a broader campaign to counteract negative global narratives surrounding China, particularly those related to censorship, human rights, and geopolitical assertiveness. In recent years, China has increasingly turned to non-traditional diplomacy, enlisting foreign influencers to present a polished, tightly-curated version of life in China. A 2023 report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute revealed that over 120 foreign influencers had received support from the Chinese government to produce content favourable to its image. One high-profile example came earlier this year, when American streamer IShowSpeed visited China. His videos, which highlighted China's tech innovation and modern infrastructure, went viral, generating millions of views and stirring global curiosity. A 5-Year Plan For US Youth China's influencer exchange program is slated to run for five years, with annual invitations extended to fresh batches of American content creators. The long-term plan aligns with President Xi Jinping's 2023 pledge to invite 50,000 American students to China, part of a broader goal to deepen educational and cultural ties even amid diplomatic frostiness. Encouragement has also come from within Chinese student communities abroad, who are being urged to recommend influencers they know for the trip. While critics may see this as propaganda dressed in Instagram filters, supporters argue it's a form of people-to-people diplomacy that could help reduce misinformation and foster mutual understanding in an increasingly polarised world. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Free 10-day China trip: All-expenses-paid tour offered to U.S. Influencers— Here's why?
China offers a 10-day free trip to US Influencers: This July, China is offering a free 10-day, all-expense-paid trip to American social media creators as part of its "China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Program." The program, which aims to change the global perspective through digital diplomacy, encourages well-known influencers to visit Chinese sites and e-commerce sites, as well as regional partnerships with local content producers, to get a firsthand look at Chinese culture. This calculated action supports Beijing's efforts to increase soft power, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions between the US and China. The ad draws attention to how diplomacy is evolving in the twenty-first century, where influence is shaped just as much online as at political gatherings. About China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Program According to recruitment posts by Chinese state-affiliated media outlets, such as the China Youth Daily, the program, called the "China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Program," aims to recruit young social media influencers with at least 300,000 followers to work with Chinese content creators. According to a different article in College Daily, a magazine that focuses on Chinese students in North America, candidates for the exchange program who are based in the US must "love Chinese culture" and "have no history of bad behaviours." It urged Chinese students studying abroad to recommend influential people in their networks to apply, and it stated that the chosen applicants would receive an official invitation from China and special help from the government in obtaining their visas. Where will the US Influencers go to travel in China? In addition to covering China's e-commerce hubs and the corporate offices of enterprises like Xiaohongshu Technology Co. and BYD Co., the tour aims to take participants through five Chinese cities: Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan, and Beijing. According to the posts, the influencers will also be able to live-stream their visit to the Great Wall and engage in cultural activities like Taichi. The agreement will include exchanging ideas with Chinese social media influencers and promoting their work through China's official media. Who will be eligible for this program? Young social media influencers with at least 300,000 followers are sought after in order to work with Chinese content producers and promote "Real China." US applicants for the exchange program should be active on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X, "love Chinese culture," and "have no history of bad behaviours," according to a post in College Daily. This publication specifically targets Chinese students in North America, according to the report. Why is China planning for a 10-day free trip for US influencers? In an attempt to increase people-to-people interactions and promote the "real China," Beijing is asking American influencers to travel through the nation for 10 days in July, all expenses paid. The program represents an attempt to increase cultural contacts, even if geopolitical, technological, and trade challenges have caused a decline in U.S.-China relations in recent months. President Xi Jinping, who had earlier announced a plan to bring 50,000 American students to China, called for expanded interactions between Chinese and American institutions last year. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Beijing woos US influencers with free trip to show ‘real China'
China seeks to enlist young social media influencers from the United States to collaborate with its local content creators. - Photo: AFP BEIJING: China is inviting American influencers to join a 10-day, all-expense paid trip through the country in July, as part of Beijing's efforts to boost people-to-people exchanges and showcase the 'real China'. The initiative, titled 'China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Programme', seeks to enlist young social media influencers with at least 300,000 followers to collaborate with Chinese content creators, according to recruitment posts by Chinese state-affiliated media outlets, including the China Youth Daily. While relations between China and the US have deteriorated in recent months over issues including geopolitics, technology and trade, the programme marks an effort to boost cultural exchanges. In 2024, President Xi Jinping had called for more exchanges between Chinese and American universities, after previously announcing a plan to welcome 50,000 American students to China. Another post in College Daily, a publication particularly targeting Chinese students in North America, specified that applicants for the exchange programme based in the US should be active on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X, and should 'love Chinese culture' and 'have no history of bad behaviours'. It called on Chinese students overseas to encourage influencers in their circle to apply, and said the successful candidates will get China's official invite as well as special assistance from the state to process their visas. The trip intends to take the participants across five Chinese cities – Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan and Beijing, and will cover China's e-commerce hubs, the headquarter of companies such as Xiaohongshu Technology Co and BYD Co. The influencers will also partake in cultural activities such as Taichi and be able to live-stream their trip to the Great Wall, according to the posts. Working with Chinese social media influencers on ideas, and getting their content promoted by China's state media will be part of the deal. Social media content from Western influencers travelling through China post-Covid-19 have won praise from the state media for their authentic portrayal of everyday life in the country. In April, American streamer IShowSpeed's visit to China sparked widespread curiosity among fans about advancements in Chinese technology. The authorities have tapped social media influencers to check negative information and promote positive contents. In 2023, think-tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute analysed over 120 foreign influencers, mostly active on Chinese social media, received the state's help to grow their influence in return for content that praises and spreads Beijing's narrative. - Bloomberg
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Beijing woos US influencers with free trip to show ‘real China'
China seeks to enlist young social media influencers from the US to collaborate with its local content creators. PHOTO: AFP China is inviting American influencers to join a 10-day, all-expense paid trip through the country in July , as part of Beijing's efforts to boost people-to-people exchanges and showcase the 'real China'. The initiative, titled 'China-Global Youth Influencer Exchange Programme', seeks to enlist young social media influencers with at least 300,000 followers to collaborate with Chinese content creators, according to recruitment posts by Chinese state-affiliated media outlets, including the China Youth Daily. While relations between China and the US have deteriorated in recent months over issues including geopolitics, technology and trade, the programme marks an effort to boost cultural exchanges. In 2024 , President Xi Jinping had called for more exchanges between Chinese and American universities, after previously announcing a plan to welcome 50,000 American students to China. Another post in College Daily, a publication particularly targeting Chinese students in North America, specified that applicants for the exchange programme based in the US should be active on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X, and should 'love Chinese culture' and 'have no history of bad behaviours'. It called on Chinese students overseas to encourage influencers in their circle to apply, and said the successful candidates will get China's official invite as well as special assistance from the state to process their visas. The trip intends to take the participants across five Chinese cities – Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan and Beijing, and will cover China's e-commerce hubs, the headquarter of companies such as Xiaohongshu Technology Co and BYD Co. The influencers will also partake in cultural activities such as Taichi and be able to live-stream their trip to the Great Wall, according to the posts. Working with Chinese social media influencers on ideas, and getting their content promoted by China's state media will be part of the deal. Social media content from Western influencers travelling through China post-Covid-19 have won praise from the state media for their authentic portrayal of everyday life in the country. In April, American streamer IShowSpeed's visit to China sparked widespread curiosity among fans about advancements in Chinese technology. The authorities have tapped social media influencers to check negative information and promote positive contents. In 2023, think-tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute analysed over 120 foreign influencers, mostly active on Chinese social media, received the state's help to grow their influence in return for content that praises and spreads Beijing's narrative. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
