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Mandy Zuo

A middle-aged farmer in northern China has become an online celebrity for his impressive recitation of a famous Chinese poem.
With a mellow, deep voice and speaking top-level standard Mandarin, Yu Xinwei’s recitation of Second Farewell to Cambridge, a famous poem in China written by early 20th-century Chinese poet Xu Zhimo, has won him millions of fans on social media.
Known as Uncle Shoushan on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, 45-year-old Yu has raised many eyebrows for his plain appearance but stunning voice and recitation skills.
Though China has largely eliminated illiteracy, Yu has still broken stereotypes, with people surprised a farmer like him could speak Mandarin like a radio announcer.


Having spent most of his life farming and taking odd jobs in his hometown in Longhua county, Hebei province, Yu started streaming live as a singer two years ago. Besides singing, he said he also likes watching documentaries on state television and studying voice dubbing.
He said he never expected his poetry recitation would win so many hearts.
“All I did was singing before. It was a surprise to me that I would be famous the first time I recited a poem,” he told the Qianjiang Evening News earlier this month.
His account on Douyin has 1.56 million followers and over 7 million likes.
Popular show, unpopular acting
Other hot trends around China in November include the new TV drama series The Deer and the Cauldron, based on the widely read martial arts novel of the same name by Chinese novelist Louis Cha, which has become the most heatedly discussed series in China in recent weeks.
Cha specialises in a brand of writing called wuxia, which is a genre of novels about the adventures of martial arts masters in ancient China.
The show has been the most-watched prime-time television programme since its release on state broadcaster CCTV on November 15.
Chinese carpenter’s traditional woodworking skills wow millions online
The Deer And The Cauldron novel has previously been adapted into seven different TV series and a hit film starring Hong Kong comedy superstar Stephen Chow.
The story is about a sly, witty, illiterate, lazy son of a prostitute named Wei Xiaobao, who makes his way to the imperial palace in the early Qing dynasty through a series of adventures. He develops an incredible friendship with the ruler of the empire, Kang Xi, and eventually has seven wives.
Despite its popularity, the show has been rated surprisingly low because people are critical of the lead actor, who they accuse of overacting.

Zhang Yishan, the actor playing Wei, has been criticised for his “too exaggerated” and “too comical” acting. Some viewers were also shocked to see one of Wei’s wives, a princess in feudal China, wearing a black, see-through dress.
It had a score of only 2.9 out of 10 on the media review website Douban by Wednesday.
Marathon month
China’s middle class has embraced fitness, which has recently manifested itself as a marathon craze.
At least 32 marathons were held in November across China, usually the golden month for long distance running in the country. On the weekend of November 8 alone, 13 cities around China organised a race.

Participation in the races, however, has shrunk from previous years over concerns of the spread of Covid-19. The Shanghai International Marathon, one of the country’s most famous, which was held on November 29, only allowed 9,000 people to participate, less than a quarter of last year’s 38,000 participants. The organiser said it didn’t invite international runners and also cancelled a few smaller races.
In the city of Nanjing, 30,000 people signed up for its marathon, double last year’s numbers, but only a third of them were allowed to run, with a lottery used to pick the competitors.
According to the Chinese Athletics Association, the country hosted over 1,800 long-distance running races last year, 35 times more than the number held in 2014.


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Social media

Chinese farmer becomes online star for his stunning poem recital

Yu Xinwei, a farmer from Hebei province, has won hearts in China for his recital of a famous poem. Image: Douyin

Handout image of Zhang Yishan, the actor playing Wei, in The Deer and the Cauldron, a widely-read martial arts novel by Chinese novelist Louis Cha

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 29: Runners participate in the 2020 Shanghai Marathon at the Bund on November 29, 2020 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Yang Jianzheng/VCG via Getty Images)CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

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Yoyoka Soma is a drumming prodigy whose skills have been praised by Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. Photo: courtesy of Yoyoka Soma

Ten-year-old Yoyoka Soma is a drumming prodigy whose skills have been praised by ex-Led Zepplin singer Robert Plant. Photos courtesy of Yoyoka Soma

Yoyoka Soma dreams of drumming with Dave Grohl and Robert Plant – and she’s only 10. Photo: courtesy of Yoyoka Soma

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Singaporean YouTuber Sneaky Sushii has gained a following for criticising other Singaporean YouTube stars such as JianHao Tan, the city state’s most popular. Photo: Courtesy of Sneaky Sushii

Singaporean YouTuber Sneaky Sushii. Photos courtesy of Sneaky Sushii

Lifestyle

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China

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Yu Xinwei’s recitation of Second Farewell to Cambridge has won him millions of fans on social media
Other hot trends in China in November include a new TV drama series that has audiences split and a marathon craze sweeping the nation



A middle-aged farmer in northern China has become an online celebrity for his impressive recitation of a famous Chinese poem, breaking stereotypes of rural workers.


Fame and celebrity

China society

Internet

Chinese farmer becomes online star for his stunning poem recital

Yu Xinwei’s recitation of Second Farewell to Cambridge has won him millions of fans on social media Other hot trends in China in November include a new TV drama series that has audiences split and a marathon craze sweeping the nation

Yu Xinwei’s recitation of Second Farewell to Cambridge has won him millions of fans on social media

Other hot trends in China in November include a new TV drama series that has audiences split and a marathon craze sweeping the nation