After escaping the war, an Iraqi vlogger causes a sensation on Chinese social networks

CHENGDU — Camera in hand, Ahmed Jabar has continued to recount his life in China since he moved here ten years ago.

Usually dressed in a smart suit, with curly hair and a beard, this Iraq native speaks Mandarin while blogging about his culinary experiences.

On Chinese social media, Jabar, whose Chinese name is Wang Lixuan, runs the immensely popular food vlogger account “Lao Wang in China”, which has more than 15 million followers. His biography says: “After facing life’s most painful trials, I cherish the stability and peace I found in China. I love the food here and the scenery is breathtaking.”

Born in Iraq in 1994, his childhood is a tapestry woven of war sorrows and displacement. From Iraq to Syria, Jabar and his family have braved the ravages of conflict.

“At first I mistook (the rumbling noises) for fireworks, but I soon realized it was the sound of missiles falling,” Jabar recalls.

In 2014, with the help of relatives, they finally reached China.

Upon arrival, Jabar accepted a position as an Arabic teaching intern at an international school in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where he taught Arabic while diligently learning Chinese.

“The people around me were incredibly patient,” he said. “Although I didn’t understand their words at first, their eyes spoke volumes about their genuine affection and desire to help me.”

With unwavering determination, he seized every opportunity to master the language, achieving fluent communication within a year.

Over time, Jabar has taken on various roles: Arabic teacher, advisor for international students, model, actor, and livestream host. Each transition allowed him to become more acclimated to life in China and regain a sense of security.

In 2018, he enrolled in a short video training course. This experience taught him basic editing skills and how to navigate social media and short-video platforms such as Bilibili and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

During one trip, he recorded a video of himself eating and commenting on the food, which he edited and posted online to great success.

Motivated by this success, Jabar continued to produce culinary exploration videos. Thanks to his love for Chinese cuisine and his mastery of the language, he began to gain recognition among an ever-growing audience.

In six months, his fame skyrocketed and the number of his followers, Douyin and Bilibili, grew from a few thousand to more than 15 million. Through his videos, viewers can explore a variety of Chinese cuisines from the comfort of their homes. “Lao Wang in China” offers a unique perspective on food from an outsider’s perspective, with heartwarming interactions with restaurateurs and diners, infusing each video with laughter and warmth.

“Heartbreaking” is a word frequently found in the comments of “Lao Wang in China” videos. During this year’s Chinese Lunar New Year, while filming in Zhengzhou, Henan, he was startled by the sudden sound of firecrackers while eating alone at a barbecue stall. His eyes glazed over with fear as he froze for a few seconds, a moment captured on camera.

“I thought it was the sound of a bomb exploding,” he said.

This scene moved countless viewers, who left comments such as “Don’t be afraid, you are in China” and “His surprised reaction shows that he is protecting himself, but lowering his head with a smile shows his confidence in China.”

In March, Jabar returned to his homeland after almost 20 years, reuniting with his family members after many years. During his brief six-day stay in Iraq, he witnessed the gradual recovery of his country. To his delight, there are now Chinese restaurants in Baghdad and schools, hospitals, bridges and railways are being built with Chinese help.

“I deeply feel that China warmly helps Iraq move forward,” Jabar remarked. “I am a foreigner, but not a foreigner. I like peaceful life and peaceful people.”

From Iraq to Syria, then to China, Jabar spent 10 years finding the security he dreamed of and the meaning of his life.

Looking ahead, Jabar hopes to expand its videos to include Chinese tourism, tea culture, clothing, customs and ethnic groups, with the aim of creating more quality content to help the world better understand China .

China