"Goodbye, Beijing!"
On the evening of September 18, under the Zhengyangmen Gate, 10 influencers from 9 Arab countries bid farewell in unison. Five days earlier, they had entered this city with their own languages and cameras; five days later, they hugged, took photos, and said, "I will come again." The 2026 "Silk Road Influencers' Beijing Tour" was hosted by the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal People's Government and organized by China Arab TV.
Experiencing the Spirit of Benevolence and Etiquette at the Xiannongtan Temple
On September 14, the event kicked off at the Qingcheng Palace within the Xiannongtan Temple. Mostafa, an Egyptian influencer based in Bahrain, remarked, "We may differ in our cultures and dialects, yet we enter the same space; this is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Silk Road journey." Meanwhile, Anood—a Palestinian teacher of the Chinese language participating for the second time—expressed her hope that her followers would take an interest "not only in the photos and videos but also in the stories behind them." Egyptian influencer Eman drew upon the concept of "benevolence" to recount how Arab merchants on the ancient Silk Road exchanged spices for silk and subsequently introduced Chinese tea to the Arab world. That evening, at the Huguang Guild Hall, Yemeni influencer Mohammed Al-Shawshi took on the persona of the Imperial Concubine Yang Guifei, earning praise from a Peking Opera master who described him as "the best student I have ever seen learning the art."
From Dual-Olympic Landmarks to Smart Manufacturing in Beijing
On September 15, the influencers ascended the "Bird’s Nest" stadium, visited the "Water Cube," and strolled along the banks of the Liangma River to the SOLANA district, capturing scenes of daily life as Beijing residents dined and shopped. Arab followers commented, "This is real life."
On September 16, the delegation visited the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. An Arabic-speaking smart robot made a profound impression on Emirati influencer Al Thani, who remarked, "The opportunities of the future are here in China—in Beijing!" Meanwhile, the autonomous driving experience prompted Egyptian influencer Mostafa to describe it as "truly impressive and an unparalleled experience."
"Rich because I got to see the Great Wall of China with my own eyes"
On September 17, at the Badaling section of the Great Wall, Tunisian influencer Yasmeen leaned against the wall and shed tears of joy. She captioned the short video she posted that day: "Rich because I got to see the Great Wall of China with my own eyes." The video garnered one million views and 57,000 likes.
On September 18, the influencers experienced traditional Chinese pulse diagnosis at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Anoud jokingly asked, "Can you also tell how my relationship with my boyfriend is going?"—prompting laughter from everyone. Afterward, they took a ride on the "Dangdang" tram to view Tiananmen Square and the Central Axis, and sampled Halal cuisine in Niujie, discovering—through taste—Beijing’s culinary culture, where diverse ingredients converge. On the tour bus, they spontaneously sang along to the Chinese song "Ba Fang Lai Cai" (Wealth Comes from All Directions)—a track that had already gained popularity in Arab countries—turning the moment into a vivid expression of cultural exchange.
They brought Beijing back to the Arab world
Over the course of five days, influencers shared the story of Beijing—where the past blends with the present—with the Arab world through vlogs, short videos, and photo posts on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. During a sharing session, one participant remarked: "The Silk Road connects not only the peoples of these countries but also their hearts."
Participants in this program hailed from nine countries—Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen—with a combined following of nearly 20 million across various platforms. Thanks to their content, the Beijing captured through their lenses is now reaching even more people across the Arab world.
Content provided by China Arab TV
