China's 'freedom ambassador' transforms from builder to travel blogger, has 25 million followers

A Chinese travel blogger, dubbed the “ambassador of freedom,” goes from working class poverty to money-making influencer with millions of followers. -- Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

SHANGHAI (SCMP): An internet-addicted, working-class teenager from a debt-ridden family in China has transformed himself into a top influencer with 25 million followers, creating a social media legend along the way.

Lan Zhanfei, 33, has been dubbed “the freest man on the internet” and “the ambassador of freedom” thanks to the huge popularity of videos of him travelling at home and abroad, The Cover reported.