Viral invite spotlights Yunnan's global appeal

At the 2025 Red Go Slow Festival in Dali, Yunnan province, a fan's viral invitation to US YouTube star IShowSpeed highlighted the region's growing appeal to global tourists, just as the province reports a 97.9 percent surge in overnight tourists this year.

In the video, singer-songwriter Zhang Wei, better known by his stage name Da Zhang Wei, delivers a passionate performance. A young woman films a short video inviting IShowSpeed, also known as Darren Jason Watkins Jr, from afar. "Hi, Speed, Da Zhang Wei is in Dali now," she says in the video. "Welcome to Yunnan, and we are waiting here for you."

The enthusiastic invitation showcased the earnest anticipation of the Yunnan people for visitors.

Yunnan's beautiful natural scenery and profound cultural heritage make it a dream destination for tourists.

According to the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, from January to May, Yunnan received 3.63 million inbound tourists, including 2.12 million overnight tourists, a year-on-year increase of 97.9 percent.

Video by Xie Xintong