A scholar's take: why we crave Li Ziqi's authenticity

At the 2026 Beijing Culture Forum, David Francis, a scholar from University College London, offered his reflections on the global appeal of Li Ziqi, one of China's best-known internet influencers overseas. For Francis, what draws people to her videos is not merely the content itself, but a deeper desire for a slower pace of life — a return to life before the digital age.

"What Li Ziqi is doing is in the rhythms of the season," Francis said. "She's creating these dishes at different times of year, she's doing these crafts when they should be done. Those things are the kind of authenticity that people are seeking." He acknowledged that AI is good at the "transportation, that time travel element". But, he added, "maybe some of the rhythm, the authenticity, the truth of craft, the rhythms of the year — those are the things that we crave: the authentic individual living that life."