Li Ziqi Returns: Influencer Breaks Internet After 3-Year Hiatus
After a three-year break, renowned Chinese video influencer Li Ziqi recently resumed posting online. She shared two new videos on Douyin, Sina Weibo, and YouTube. The videos quickly became top trending topics. On Douyin alone, they gained over 2 million likes and nearly 200,000 comments within two hours.
The BBC reported that Li rose to fame in 2016. China’s social media users loved her slow-paced videos on cooking and traditional handicrafts. Fans worldwide welcomed her return.
Despite not posting since July 14, 2021, her follower count continued to increase. Meanwhile, fans frequently requested new content during her absence. Additionally, many wondered about her whereabouts and whether she had retired. However, following her new videos, Li’s followers quickly surged. As a result, she now has over 26.67 million followers on Sina Weibo, 50.15 million on Douyin, 20.3 million on YouTube, and 3 million on TikTok.
Li’s comeback became China’s top trending topic overnight. As of 10 am on the 13th, her lacquerware video had 120 million views on Sina Weibo. It also received 1.94 million interactions, including shares, comments, and likes.
Supportive messages flooded her comment section. Many expressed joy at her return. Li responded, saying she missed her followers too. “There is no time for me to write a small essay today. I will make it up to you when I am not that busy. Miss you!” she wrote.
Li began posting videos on Sina Weibo in 2016. Her content featured poetic depictions of rural life, traditional cooking, and cultural practices like ink-making and crafting clothing. In 2020, she set a Guinness World Record for the most subscribers on a Chinese-language YouTube channel, with 11.4 million followers.
Written by Yi Shen, additional reporting by China Daily.
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