Tibetan woman in China resembles Korean superstar actress Song Hye-kyo, draws visitors to eatery

A Tibetan woman who resembles Korean actress Song Hye-kyo has made visitors flock to the Shangri-La restaurant where she works. -- Photo: SCMP composite/solomag.ca/IG@kyo1122

BEIJING (SCMP): A Chinese woman of Tibetan ethnicity has gone viral because she resembles the South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo.

Her online popularity has attracted tourists from around China and abroad to visit her.

The 27-year-old, known by two names, Dolma and Yongzong, is a performer at Tusi manor in Shangri-La, southwestern China’s Yunnan province.

The manor offers an immersive experience of the time when Yunnan was under the governance of Tusi, imperial officials in the Yuan (1279-1368), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties in China.

Yongzong sings and dances on stage.

She is from Deqen county, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan, about four hours’ drive from Shangri-La.

Yongzong grew up as a farm girl and worked at the manor after graduating three years ago. She began as a waitress and was promoted to become a performer.

Her performances were said to have greatly boosted its business.

Tourists draw Yongzong, who sings and dances, on stage at a Shangri-La restaurant. -- Photo: Handout

She went viral recently for looking like the famous South Korean actress, Song Hye-kyo, and has been nicknamed “Deqen Song Hye-kyo”.

Many people travelled from other provinces to Shangri-La to see her. Among her admirers are South Korean visitors.

Yongzong said she only takes leave when she is really sick or has to go back to Deqen because she does not want to disappoint her fans.

People flock around her when she is not performing, and she tries her best to meet all their requests for photographs.

The lookalike performer’s work sees fans flock from all over China and overseas. -- Photo: Handout

“I do not have the courage to go to another city to see someone I like, so I am really moved when someone does this for me,” Yongzong said.

Even the local culture and tourism administration treats her like she is a tourism ambassador.

Many say they are attracted to not only her beauty but also her elegant posture.

“My wife and I came to Shangri-La just to see her,” said a person from central China’s Shanxi province.

“Such natural beauties are rare today,” said another.

Yongzong, who tries to meet every request for photographs, poses with some happy fans. -- Photo: Handout

Some online observers leave unpleasant comments, saying she is exploiting Song’s fame or cannot carry a tune.

However, Yongzong laughed them off, even jokingly calling herself a “dumb beauty”.

One said: “She has a mind as broad as a plateau.”

“She has her own unique beauty. It is not necessary to compare her with any celebrities,” said another.

Yongzong’s social media account has 290,000 followers, and she sometimes does live-streams. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST