-- Tibetan herder Tamdrin, 20, has become the latest internet celebrity in China, after a video clip and photos featuring his handsome face went viral online.
-- Thanks to Tamdrin's instant fame, interest in his home county of Litang has surged wildly, especially since a promotional video titled "Ding Zhen's World" was released online last week.
-- Poverty alleviation officials have made every effort to further boost local tourism to enhance people's livelihoods in recent years.
CHENGDU, Dec. 4 -- Staring at rocky meadows through a car window at an altitude of 4,700 meters, Tamdrin knew he was almost home.
The weeklong trip to Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, was the 20-year-old's first time outside his hometown. The herder now holds the title of tourism ambassador for his home county of Litang in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze in the province.
Tamdrin is pictured on his way home from county seat of Litang, the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
Less than a month ago, he was still an ordinary herder, until a 7-second video featuring a smiling Tamdrin went viral, making him the latest social media sensation in China.
His Mandarin name Ding Zhen and related topics continue to trend on major social media platforms, and even his horse Pearl has gained some 90,000 followers on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
What makes Tamdrin stand out from other internet celebrities is not just his "sweet and wild" look, as it has been described by fans. As he releases more videos, his innocence and sincerity have also made legions of Chinese urbanites eager for a closer look at his home.
TRAVEL BOOM
In the Tibetan language, "Litang" means "grasslands as flat as a bronze mirror." Located 4,000 meters above sea level, Litang has also been dubbed "the city in the sky." With a yearly visitor flow of around 1 million, Litang's tourism is not as robust as neighboring areas such as Daocheng County, though locals believe its views are no less impressive.
