BEIJING (SCMP): A farmer in China who looks strikingly like Taiwan singer Jay Chou cannot sing, but enjoys the Mandopop king’s music.
Wei Wenkai, 41, comes from central China’s Henan province and now works in the southeastern city of Quanzhou.
Many say Wei is a 99.99 per cent lookalike to the pop icon.
His resemblance is so spot on that he even has the same front tooth gap Chou had before getting dental work early in his career.
Wei shares videos of his daily farm life, like picking tomatoes, set to Chou’s classic hits.
Netizens have praised the nostalgic, countryside vibe of his content and affectionately dubbed him Cailun, a playful twist on Chou’s Chinese name which translates into “vegetable Jay”.
In an interview with Quanzhou Evening News, Wei recalled how his secondary school teacher was the first to point out his resemblance to Chou.
“At the time, rural kids did not follow celebrities, and no one knew about Jay Chou. But after I heard his music, I became a huge fan,” he said.
Despite the fact that he cannot sing, Wei used to jot down Chou’s lyrics and sing along to his cassette tapes.
Surprised by his new-found fame, Wei said he never set out to imitate the pop star.
“Making videos was just a way to share my farming life. I am more introverted and worried that too many fans would disrupt my normal life,” he said.
Wei spends most of his time working in the fields, and enjoys visiting local temples when he can.
“Jay Chou’s ancestral home is also in Quanzhou, so I feel a connection to this city,” he said, adding that he considers Quanzhou his “second hometown” and plans to stay long-term.
Wei was excited to discover recently that Chou will be performing in Xiamen from July 11 to 13.
However, he will not attend, citing the difficulty of getting tickets and his “limited finances”.
Wei also expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from Chou’s fans on social media.
“I am very lucky to be associated with Jay Chou. Thank you for appreciating the simple rural life in my videos. I hope to share the hardworking, happy life of farmers with more people.”
Wei’s down-to-earth personality has struck a chord with many fans, who say he reminds them of the singer in his early days.
One netizen wrote: “It takes me back to my youth. His videos perfectly match Jay Chou’s song Rice Field, giving off a carefree, rural vibe.”
Wei is not the first person to gain fame for looking like Chou.
Bai Xianying, a pancake vendor from Hebei, also became a social media sensation, amassing 3 million followers.
Despite offers to become a full-time influencer, Bai has stayed humble, saying: “I am just a pancake maker.”
The real singer once said: “Jay Chou from the ‘multiverse’ is working hard everywhere, spreading positive energy to a world that needs humour.” - South China Morning Post
