IShowSpeed Unc followed him across China giving Speed food and becoming a highlight of the stream – all to promote his hometown.
Unc was a standout of IShowSpeed’s China tour, showing up in cities across China in his big flowery coat with food in hand to offer IShowSpeed and his team. His motivation wasn’t being IShowSpeed’s biggest fan, or getting money, or even becoming famous. He simply wanted to try and tell everyone about his hometown.
The 20-year-old American streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, has 38 million subscribers on YouTube and 32 million on Instagram. He visited China for an often chaotic tour of eight cities across two weeks, which shattered many preconceptions about China.
Among a legion of fans, businessmen, and local officials eager to meet IShowSpeed, the most relentless was Unc. He first showed up in Chengdu on IShowSpeed’s March 31st stream. While IShowSpeed was walking down the street surrounded by his bodyguard and swarmed with Chinese fans, suddenly an entire braised goose appeared in view followed by Uncle holding it. Encouraging IShowSpeed to try it and explaining in limited English that it is braised goose from his hometown. To Uncle’s joy, IShowSpeed gave it a try.
The first meeting was short as IShowSpeed had to move on with his tour, but Chengdu was only the beginning. Uncle went on to find IShowSpeed in Chongqing, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and finally Changsha. Each time, he would bring food and snacks from his hometown.
By Changsha, IShowSpeed was happy to see Unc again, inviting Uncle to join him during the stream. They ate together in restaurants, rapped together, and even ended the stream together before IShowSpeed left China.
Throughout the trip, IShowSpeed and his team referred to him as Uncle or Unc. On western social media users started to call him w Uncle, short for win.
Uncle actually goes by the name Jiang Ge (江哥 – Brother Jiang).
Initially in China, there was concern that he would be embarrassing or had a self-promotion angle. However, his perseverance and kindness won netizens over.
During the streams, he didn’t just offer food to IShowSpeed, but his entire team. He consistently offered tea to I ShowSpeed and his team, at one moment shocking a security guard by pushing a cup of tea close to his mouth while he wasn’t looking.
Watch on TikTok
At a shop after IShowSpeed and his team bought food, Jiang Ge stealthily paid before anyone had noticed.
His kindness appears to spread far beyond his streams with IShowSpeed.
Before he met IShowSpeed, Jiang Ge was a local internet celebrity. Looking through his social media accounts, he can be seen promoting local business, doing charitable work, and supporting farmers. He has even been given awards and certificates for his efforts.
This year, for example, a video uploaded to his Xiao Hong Shu account shows him receiving his fifth food promotion ambassador certificate. Wearing his trademark large flowery coat during the ceremony.
In a video uploaded in January, he calls on everyone to do whatever small things they can to support Tibet, where an earthquake had killed over 100 people. At the end of the video, a charity donation certificate shows he had donated 1,200 Yuan (around £125) to an earthquake relief charity.
On his Chinese social media handles he uses the name Rongchang Jiang Ge (荣昌江哥). Referring to his hometown of Rongchang.
Rongchang is a district in the far west of Chongqing that borders Sichuan province. With a population of just over 650,000 it is small by Chinese standards. Known in China as the “Fragrant Begonia Country” and the “Pearl of Western Chongqing”.
Jiang Ge putting it front and centre in his social media is key to understanding why he traveled across China looking for IShowSpeed. Unlike many other interactions IShowSpeed had in China, where business owners were attempting to promote their own products or brand, Jiang Ge had no such intention. His aim was to promote his hometown.
In a video posted on March 30th, the day before he met IShowSpeed for the first time, he picks up braised goose from several Rongchang shops. In it, he says he will try to treat an American internet celebrity to the braised goose, sharing it with the world.
He certainly achieved his goals. Thanks to Jiang Ge, Rongchang and its braised goose will be known by a lot more people. Across China people are asking how they can buy Rongchang braised goose, while local stores have already seen an increase in sales. The local government has wasted no time, releasing videos in four languages promoting Rongchang and their braised goose.
Returning to Rongchang Bei Railway Station on April 9th, Jiang Ge was welcomed home as a celebrity. Surrounded by his fellow residents offering him flowers, gifts, and of course braised duck.
Asked how he was feeling, Jiang Ge simply said: “I feel very good, as I’ve promoted my hometown”.
If you liked this article why not read: The Chinese Comedian Letting Rural Chinese Women’s Stories be “Seen”
