China: Dishwasher boy "deep in debt", changes his life after shock

(Dan Tri) - Born into a poor rural family in China, Lan Zhanfei was once "up to his neck" in debt. His life took a new turn when he became a travel blogger, currently with 25 million followers.

Lan Zhenfei, 33 years old, was born into a poor family in Luoding city, Guangdong province (China). While in secondary school, Lan's father died of a heart attack, leaving behind his wife and children.

This made his family even more miserable. They lived in debt, worrying about their next meal. Not long after, his mother also fell into depression because of the impasse.

After graduating from high school, Lan did not go to university because his family could not afford the tuition. He soon worked as a construction worker to support his mother and younger sister. At night, he worked as a dishwasher.

The 33-year-old man changed his life when he became a travel blogger (Photo: News).

Lan admits that despite having to work hard to make a living every day, he still sets aside a small amount of time to satisfy his passion for gaming.

Thanks to a friend who recognized Lan's talent in gaming and encouraged him to pursue the path of becoming a professional gamer, he gave it a try. Not long after, he became a professional gamer and competed in eSports. Thanks to his ability, Lan quickly became famous in the gaming community and earned a lot of money thanks to this.

However, in 2014, Lan announced her retirement to the surprise of the Chinese and foreign gaming community.

"I wanted to leave the industry because I saw the competition getting fiercer," he confided. However, at that time, his account still attracted more than 2 million followers and subscribers.

For nearly ten years, the famous name of a former gamer seemed to be forgotten by everyone. In early 2023, Lan sold his luxury car, which he had saved up for a long time, to start his journey around the world .

The decision is said to have stemmed from mental shock after being betrayed by his ex-girlfriend.

Since 2024, he has been continuously traveling to many regions around the world. His personal page has posted more than 300 travel videos , receiving more than 150 million likes on social media platforms. The video about his trip to Antarctica not long ago also attracted more than 9 million likes. He currently has more than 25 million followers on his own channels.

Unlike his time as a gamer, Lan's videos of his journey of discovery attract attention with their simple and honest storytelling. He does not hesitate to recall his difficult childhood to incorporate it into each land he passes through.

"I was scolded by my mother many times for being too addicted to games. But later, games helped me have a better life. Although I am no longer a gamer, I still have many good memories of this period," he shared.

Watching Lan's videos, many fans expressed that they liked the authenticity in the scenes. This made them feel like they were enjoying the adventure themselves.

"Thank you for helping me see how beautiful this world is. I might never have set foot in this place in my entire life," one Weibo account confided.

Lan's videos are also filled with life ideals. He often cleverly inserts his own messages: "Please live freely for me."

Earlier this year, in a video, Lan revealed that he had spent about 2 million yuan on travel since 2023. This information sparked speculation about the 33-year-old's "huge fortune".

"He looks very simple but unexpectedly rich," one account commented on Douyin.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/trung-quoc-chang-trai-rua-bat-thue-no-nan-ngap-dau-doi-doi-sau-cu-soc-20251006115528477.htm