[Reading level: C1 – Advanced]
In an era where “three days without social media leaves you unable to understand what people are saying,” Li Ziqi takes her time, even pausing her activities entirely.
The 34-year-old beauty returned to short video platforms on November 12, garnering an overwhelming response with over 500 million views for three videos and millions of shares. On The Paper, media expert Zhang Shiwei remarked that it is rare for a blogger to retain popularity after years of absence. Li Ziqi has even become a cultural phenomenon, with critics using the phrase “Li’s aesthetics” to describe her unique style. She is among the pioneers of the rural lifestyle content trend, inspiring thousands to create content about rural life.
Li Ziqi’s approach runs counter to mainstream internet trends. Nearly a decade ago, when urban-themed content dominated, she chose to focus on rural life. As life grew busier and more hectic, she embraced slow, handmade, and natural methods. For example, she would soak seeds, wait for them to sprout, grow into plants, and bear fruit. Her works emphasize precision and quality; she only films after deeply understanding the craft or subject she wants to showcase.
Cultural critic Huang Jing noted that, nowadays, the internet moves so fast that a few days offline can leave someone unable to follow the latest trends. Many people, out of habit, chase fleeting viral topics that are quickly forgotten. In contrast, Li Ziqi is a “rarity.” Her content steps away from trendy topics, focusing instead on values that have endured for millennia. She can even disappear for three years without referencing anything happening online.
On Xinhua, Li Ziqi revealed that in 2022, after resolving legal disputes, she considered returning to social media. However, after meeting several artisans in intangible cultural heritage fields, she realized her skills were insufficient. She abandoned her comeback plans and traveled across 20 provinces, meeting about 100 artisans to learn their crafts. She only resumed video production after mastering the subjects. Fans likened her three-year hiatus to “closing the door to train,” a period of relentless self-improvement.
Her meticulous and deliberate approach results in intricate videos, visually stunning in every frame. Viewers say they avoid skipping parts for fear of missing delightful moments, such as cats playing, her grandmother’s expressions, or chickens eating grapes. From the content to the colors and music, even videos made six years ago remain timeless, rooted in everyday life and enduring values.
Li Ziqi’s three new videos highlight intangible cultural heritage. One features a silk dress inspired by Song Dynasty attire, with patterns symbolizing reincarnation and renewal. She presents the essence of traditional crafts through modern and innovative storytelling.
According to The Paper, Li Ziqi remains relevant because her works embody authenticity, kindness, and beauty. During her three-year absence, her YouTube followers grew from 10 million to over 20 million, drawn to her timeless old videos.
Blogger Hoage noted that the authenticity and positivity in Li Ziqi’s work reflect her outlook on life. For instance, when asked about her difficult childhood marked by poverty and hardship, she expressed gratitude toward those who brought warmth to her life. As a child, she once visited a woman’s home during the Lunar New Year, saw an egg, and asked, “Can I eat this?” The woman replied, “Of course.” Li Ziqi recalled that at her house, eggs were a luxury, sold for money rather than eaten. The woman’s generosity left a lasting impression. Li Ziqi once said, “When someone gives me a ray of light, I remember it because I know how much warmth it can bring to others.”
Despite the minimal dialogue in her videos, Li Ziqi conveys a deep love for life, nature, and work, revealing the beauty in the simplest, most ordinary things.
Born in Sichuan, Li Ziqi lost her mother at a young age. Her father remarried, and she suffered abuse at the hands of her stepmother. At six, her stepmother once held her by the hair and pushed her head into a water ditch. Initially, she cried but eventually stopped shedding tears. Later, her grandparents took her in. After her grandfather passed away when she was 10, the family faced financial struggles. At 14, she moved to Shenzhen for work, initially struggling to find a job, surviving on steamed buns and sleeping on park benches. She worked as a restaurant server and DJ. In 2012, her grandmother fell seriously ill, and Li Ziqi, unable to collect her wages, packed her belongings and returned to her hometown. Since 2016, she has pursued a career in content creation.
In Economic Observer, Peng Shenhao, head of a livestreaming and short video production company, commented that many internet celebrities have faced scandals over deceptive advertising, counterfeit goods, or attention-seeking tactics, damaging the reputation of video platforms. Li Ziqi’s return has, to some extent, boosted the image of platforms like Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese counterpart) and Kuaishou. Unlike other influencers, she does not engage in livestream sales or direct product promotions, focusing instead on creating immersive experiences for her audience. However, Peng noted that time will tell whether her brand can achieve sustained success.
Hongxing News assessed that Li Ziqi’s welcome return partly reflects her personal appeal and partly reflects the spiritual needs of modern people. Audience Heisenberg Fam received 36,000 likes when commenting on YouTube: “When the world needs her most, she returns”. Tens of thousands of people said they cried and were moved when watching the first seconds of Li Ziqi’s comeback video, when she put on her sandals and ran up the hill to welcome the first rays of light of the new day.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/ly-tu-that-hien-tuong-van-hoa-hiem-co-4815665.html
WORD BANK:
era /ˈɪr.ə/ /ˈer.ə/ (n): thời đại
take one’s time [C1] (idiom): (làm gì đó một cách) từ tốn, không vội vàng
pause /pɑːz/ [B2] (v): tạm dừng
garner /ˈɡɑːr.nɚ/ (v – formal): nhận được (sự chú ý)
retain sth /rɪˈteɪn/ [C1] (v – formal): giữ được, duy trì được cái gì
cultural phenomenon /ˈkʌl.tʃɚ.əl fəˈnɑː.mə.nɑːn/ (n): hiện tượng văn hóa
aesthetics /esˈθet̬·ɪks/ (n): thẩm mỹ
pioneer /ˌpaɪəˈnɪr/ [C2] (n): người tiên phong
inspire /ɪnˈspaɪr/ [B2] (v): truyền cảm hứng
run counter to sth (v): đi ngược lại cái gì
mainstream internet trends (n): các xu hướng nổi bật trên internet
dominate /ˈdɑː.mə.neɪt/ [B2] (v): chiếm lĩnh, thống trị
hectic /ˈhek.tɪk/ [C1] (adj): gấp gáp, hối hả
embrace sth /ɪmˈbreɪs/ [C1] (v – formal): chọn cái gì, áp dụng cái gì
soak /soʊk/ [C1] (v): ngâm
sprout /spraʊt/ (v): nảy mầm
precision /prəˈsɪʒ.ən/ (n): sự chính xác
craft /kræft/ [B2] (n): nghề thủ công
out of habit [B2] (adv): như thói quen, vì thói quen
fleeting /ˈfliː.t̬ɪŋ/ (adj): thoáng qua
viral /ˈvaɪ.rəl/ (adj): có tính lan truyền (trên internet)
rarity /ˈrer.ə.t̬i/ [C1] (n): điều lạ lẫm
endure /ɪnˈdʊr/ [B2] (v): tồn tại
millennium /mɪˈlen.i.əm/ [C2] (n): thiên niên kỷ
reference sth /ˈref.ɚ.əns/ (v): nhắc đến cái gì
legal dispute /ˈliː.ɡəl dɪˈspjuːt/ (n): tranh chấp pháp lý
artisan /ˈɑːr.t̬ə.zən/ (n): nghệ nhân
intangible cultural heritage /ɪnˈtæn.dʒə.bəl ˈkʌl.tʃɚ.əl ˈher.ɪ.t̬ɪdʒ/ (n): hóa phi vật thể
insufficient /ˌɪn.səˈfɪʃ.ənt/ [C1] (adj): chưa đủ, không đủ
abandon sth /əˈbæn.dən/ [B2] (v): bỏ cái gì
liken sth to sth /ˈlaɪ.kən/ (v): ví cái gì như cái gì
hiatus /haɪˈeɪ.t̬əs/ (n): tạm dừng
relentless /rɪˈlent.ləs/ [C2] (adj): không ngừng
meticulous /məˈtɪk.jə.ləs/ (adj): tỷ mỷ, chỉnh chu
deliberate /dɪˈlɪb.ɚ.ət/ [B2] (adj): thận trọng
intricate /ˈɪn.trə.kət/ (adj): công phu
delightful /dɪˈlaɪt.fəl/ [B2] (adj): thú vị
timeless /ˈtaɪm.ləs/ (adj): không lỗi thời
enduring /ɪnˈdʊr.ɪŋ/ (adj): bền vững
pattern /ˈpæt̬.ɚn/ [B2] (n): hoa văn
reincarnation /ˌriː.ɪn.kɑːrˈneɪ.ʃən/ (n): luân hồi
essence /ˈes.əns/ [C2] (n): sự tinh túy
remain relevant /ˈrel.ə.vənt/ [B2] (v): không bị đào thải, quên lãng
embody sth /ɪmˈbɑː.di/ [C2] (v – formal): là hiện thân của cái gì
authenticity /ˌɑː.θenˈtɪs.ə.t̬i/ (n): tính chân thật
outlook on sth /ˈaʊt.lʊk/ [C1] (n): cách nhìn về cái gì
poverty /ˈpɑː.vɚ.t̬i/ [B2] (n): nghèo đói
gratitude toward sb/sth /ˈɡræt̬.ə.tuːd/ (n): lòng biết ơn với ai/cái gì
generosity /ˌdʒen.əˈrɑː.sə.t̬i/ [B2] (n): sự hào phóng
a ray of light (n): một tia sáng
dialogue /ˈdaɪ.ə.lɑːɡ/ [B2] (n): lời thoại
ordinary /ˈɔːr.dən.er.i/ [B1] (adj): bình thường
ditch /dɪtʃ/ (n): rãnh nước
shed tears [C1] (v): rơi nước mắt
take sb in (v): đón ai về nuôi
struggle /ˈstrʌɡ.əl/ [B2] (n): khó khăn
steamed bun /stiːmd bʌn/ (n): bánh bao
deceptive /dɪˈsep·tɪv/ (adj): lừa đảo
counterfeit /ˈkaʊn.t̬ɚ.fɪt/ (adj, n): (hàng) giả
reputation /ˌrep.jəˈteɪ.ʃən/ [B2] (n): danh tiếng
immersive experience /ɪˈmɝː.sɪv ɪkˈspɪr.i.əns/ (n): trải nghiệm thưởng thức trọn vẹn
sustained /səˈsteɪnd/ (adj): bền vững
appeal /əˈpiːl/ (n): sức hút
spiritual needs /ˈspɪr.ə.tʃu.əl nidz/ (n): nhu cầu tinh thần
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