Belgian Governor's "Heaven on Earth" Visit to West Lake Viral on Chinese TikTok
In an unexpected twist, West Flanders Governor, Carl Decaluwé, has become an internet sensation on the Chinese social media platform, Douyin, often referred to as the Chinese version of TikTok. His moment of stardom unfolded during his visit to West Lake in Hangzhou, China, accompanied by a delegation, where a local broadcaster documented the outing.
In the video, Governor Decaluwé, passionately extols the beauty of West Lake in English, likening it to "heaven on earth," a sentiment once expressed by Marco Polo. The heartfelt endorsement resonated with the Chinese audience, catapulting the video to fame.
Remarkably, the video has amassed a total of 5.4 million "hotness" points, a metric combining likes, views, and shares. The more it's viewed and shared, the higher it climbs in popularity. In the province of Zhejiang, where it was filmed, the video even made a surprise appearance in the top 10 chart. Governor Decaluwé, pleasantly surprised, said, "In the province where it was shot, home to 60 million residents, already 5 million people have watched it. It's spreading like wildfire. It's quite enjoyable!"
According to VRT’s China correspondent Leen Vervaeke, the locals are charmed by his appreciation. West Lake is a well-known tourist attraction, but many locals have grown accustomed to its beauty. They are pleased that a foreigner highlights its allure and the fact that Governor Decaluwé has visited the region ten times is seen as a tremendous compliment.
West Lake is a scenic body of water surrounded by lush greenery, often celebrated in classical Chinese literature as a piece of heaven on earth. Governor Decaluwé's use of this reference in his video has endeared him to the Chinese people, who appreciate his understanding of their culture.
Sources : VRT, Focus-WTV
Editor : Jonathan Xu