Foreign influencers visit Yichang

By Liu Xinyu.

From July 24 to 25, a delegation of international content creators, including Jin Yeongeun (South Korea), Jerry Grey (Australia), and Miguel de Oliveira Manacero (Brazil) embarked on a dynamic “Electric Yichang Tour” and shared their stories through their digital channels.

Miguel de Oliveira Manacero, Jerry Grey, and Jin Yeongeun take a group photo in front of the Three Gorges Dam.

The group visited key sites in Yichang, including Angel Yeast (Yichang) Co., Ltd., the Xiba Everbright City, and the Three Gorges Dam, gaining first-hand insights into the city’s biotechnology, modern agriculture, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and cultural-tourism integration initiatives.

Throughout the journey, they infused their personal narratives with Yichang’s development and rich culture, creating dynamic digital storytelling for global audiences via their overseas social media platforms.

At Angel Yeast, professional pastry chefs held a hands-on baozi-making session. “Gently rotate the dough in your left hand while pinching the edges toward the center with your right fingers,” instructed pastry chef Zhao Yu. With his patient guidance, the trio successfully shaped distinctive pleats using various techniques.

The three influencers experience the art of baozi-making with Angel Yeast's professional pastry chefs

At Xiba Everbright City, they immersed themselves in the vibrant reopening atmosphere. Jin dressed in a pink dress and posed for photos in front of colorful storefronts, capturing the authentic vibe of local street life. Brazilian student Manacero said he was deeply moved by Yichang 1938, a theatrical production inspired by the Evacuation of Yichang. “This play helped me gain a deeper understanding of the history of this beautiful city,” he said.

Stage production Yichang 1938 receives a standing ovation.

The awe-inspiring scale of the Three Gorges Dam impressed the group, while the Qianhua Embroidery of Xujiachong Village offered equally captivating cultural depth. As embroiderers worked their needles through silk, blossoms appeared thread by thread.

Grey received a Qianhua-embroidered sachet from an artisan, filled it with fragrant mugwort and sealed it with silk thread to complete his unique handicraft. The hands-on experience offered him a glimpse into the living tradition of Yichang’s intangible cultural heritage.
 

Jin and Manacero observe the handcrafting techniques of Qianhua Embroidery at Xujiachong Village.

At China Qingjiang (Yidu) Sturgeon Valley, Manacero had his first close encounter with gliding sturgeon. “Their skin is incredibly smooth!” he marveled. Staff members highlighted the facility’s airlift circulating aquaculture system and dual-loop filtration technology, where water quality meets drinking water standards to ensure fish health.
 

The delegation visits China Qingjiang (Yidu) Sturgeon Valley.

The group also visited HEC Pharm’s Yidu base and Angel’s high-end food ingredient processing park, gaining further insights into Yichang’s growing pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Fan Yufeng and Wen Peiqi contributed to this story.

Photo by Fu beibei and Zhou Zhuoran.