We Visited China’s Most Viral City You’ve Definitely Never Heard Of
When you think of China’s most famous cities, you probably think of Beijing, Shanghai, or Chongqing. But in 2023, one unexpected city became the biggest viral sensation in China, attracting millions of visitors and taking over social media.
Outside of China, hardly anyone has heard its story.
So we’ve travelled to Zibo, Shandong to discover why this ordinary city became China’s hottest destination, how it welcomed over 20 million visitors, and why Western media never talked about it.
#China #ChinaTravel #Zibo #Shandong #Travel #ChineseFood #TravelVlog #ChinaVlog #HiddenChina #Tourism
July 2026 | Vlog 627 | Qingdao, china
Road to Every Province in China: 22/34 so far
#China #ChinaTravel #Qingdao #TsingtaoBeer #OnTourWithDridgers
When we finally started our adventure
17/07/2021.
Buy us a beer and I will toast to you on the next video. Cheers 🍻
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/OTWD
________
For business inquiries, email
dridger@icloud.com
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Hello and welcome to our channel,
We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15.
We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27.
We have been wanting to travel the world so
The day has finally come we have sold our business and and our house to explore as much of the world Full Time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you x
Join us on our adventures
Buy us a beer and I will toast to you on the next video. Cheers 🍻
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/OTWD
________
For business inquiries, email
dridger@icloud.com
_________
Hello and welcome to our channel,
We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15.
We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27.
We have been wanting to travel the world so
The day has finally come we have sold our business and and our house to explore as much of the world Full Time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you x
Join us on our adventures
50 Comments
good choice as English couple to stay in China, but please do not encourage your friends to do the same, so that we can keep our Chinese cities remain as Chinese cities, we do not like you export your UK passport holders but original from South Asia.
Love your video 👍👍👍👏👏👏
Zibo is the city where I completed my undergraduate studies. I spent an unforgettable four years there.
To be honest, when I first learned that I was being admitted to a university in an inland city, I felt a bit disappointed as I had grown up in a coastal city.
But after I actually lived in Zibo for some time, I was completely attracted by the low prices, slow pace of life, wide and straight roads, and the friendliness of the locals. Now I am extremely fond of Zibo, which is my second hometown in my heart!
148万？ 回去重读！
Crickets ❎Cicadas✅
I really love you guys. Among my fave. However, you guys have been going to China for two years now and have a home. It would be so amazing if you learned how to read pinyin so you can pronounce things. Once you know what each letter sounds like and what the combos are, you can basically read any pinyin even if the tones aren’t there. Weihai is pronounced WAY-high. You guys have no problem pronouncing Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an and Harbin. Anyway partly due to your influence, I am going to China in October, and because of your Guangzhou videos, I am going back for three weeks at Chinese new year starting in Shenzhen!
Thanks!
Looks like a great place to visit!
Ben being an absolute menace deliberately taking bad photos just to annoy Reanne! 😀
Hi guys, do you plan to come to Weihai? It’s another beautiful coastal city in Shandong.
Great video! After watching it, I went to buy myself some very delicious Chinese foods! 😋😅🥰😇
make a wrap! 🤣
still wearing your grandmothers dollies, 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂
Ben, you’re picking up the Chinese language pretty well. I’m impressed considering the Chinese language is one of the most difficult languages to learn.
U duo should be the only couple that have travelled the most china places ❤
Wots up Ben? You've had Ur birthday, that special treatment only lasts for one day an year! Ur back to the usual treatment, U shud know how things work hahaha!!
You've learned it very well; this is how barbecue is eaten in Zibo, Shandong.
You really love polowalk 😂 the same quality as RL.
wow, Zibo looks great – enjoy!
Kirin is the name of the japanese beer, it is a mythological creature originated from China that symbolizes luck and wisdom, so it is like a equivalent to the Unicorn although they are not alike physically.
FYI, I believe this YouTuber from South Africa is based in Zibo. She actually have videos featuring Zibo.
https://youtube.com/@mandsonthemove?si=lq773Fuzga-ZRELh
lol the guys at 15:24 thought you have 1.48m subs, could be your goal!
this cover⋯⋯ watch out, your wife might make you kneel on the washboard tonight! 🤣
Loved this one! And, you two are simply cute! You are doing what I will do, i can see my self in your videos.😊
哈哈哈加油加油
As a Chinese, I think It's really interesting to see China in a foreigner's perspective .
Never heard of Zibo until you guys! thanks for bringing attention to this city!! Great vid guys
淄博是·著名的瓷都，足球的发源地，《聊斋志异》蒲松龄的家乡。
Interesting part of China I have never visited. Chinese is a tonal language. Embrace it.
They are not crickets, they are Cicadas,
Zibo has the oldest Great Wall (nicknamed as the father of the Great Wall of China), built 600 BC in Qi Kingdom during Spring & Autumn period. It still stands there, very well preserved. It stretches over 100 km. It's really worthwhile a visit.
15:17 那个穿红衣服的男孩指着你的手机说：油管（youtube）！油管！ 虽然在中国使用YT需要使用VPN，但是在中国的网络上有大量的YT影片
Thought I’d share this funny comment from my son
He walked in while your video was playing and thought Ben was a priest hahaha.
His white microphone was positioned on the black shirt .
Thought you might get a laugh outta that
Enjoyable video, pity you're leaving Shandong so soon. You missed a couple of good places in Zibo-e,g. A large Tsingtao beer factory, which you can tour around. A massive ceramic and glassware museum and the old town -Zibo's most famous historic area is Zhoucun Ancient Town, a well-preserved 600-year-old commercial hub, alongside the craft-focused Yanshen Ancient Town. These areas feature Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, stone-paved streets, and traditional local shops. Guess you have a busy schedule.
You definitely are the very first westerners to blog zibo on YouTube❤🎉
nice..
The BBQ made me salivate …
The foods there are very different from those in the West, East and South of China. Incredible..
the insects noise are made by Cicada
You guys are big internet celebrities in china too😅
淄博啊 我家旁边的城市
6:21..its a great shot.., the library with Reanne in it with a back turn towards the camera is unique, awesome shot. The bean pie looks great wow, never seen anything like that, next time ask him which one is sweet and which is not so sweet, or which is most popular and he will recommend. U guys are picking up some Mandarin words. You can listen to conversational Chinese. The lamb skewer wow..Great video..thank you. Never been to China, travelling with you. Cheers!
The best thing for foreigners buying and eating foods from roadside stalls in China is not only the foods are good, cheat and delicious. The roadside food stall venders will not take the opportunity to scam you and charge you more than the local even knowing you are foreigners. Try India and see and experience for yourself. If you're foreigner, it is an opportunity for them and you probably ended up price 2 or 3 times more than the locals.
😍😍
好小众的城市😮
Ben don’t make Reanne angry. Why you didn’t take her picture? haha..😂😂. I love you both, sometimes you’re funny😊. Anyway if you’re still in Zibo, Shandong have a great time there. Cheers from Macau,China.
Reanne seriously needs some anger management classes. Ben has nerves of steel putting up with that monstrosity.
Another great video, thanks for the introduction to this city – have noted it for our next travel to China.
Is it the home town for confucius?
As a Chinese, I heard this city before and know that when I studied Chinese history