CHENGDU, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tamdrin, whose Mandarin name is Ding Zhen, is a 20-year-old Tibetan herder from a village in Litang County in Sichuan Province in southwest China.
Just a month ago, he was still an ordinary herder, until a 7-second video featuring a smiling Tamdrin went viral, making him a latest social media sensation in China.
What makes Tamdrin stand out from other internet celebrities is not just his "sweet and wild" look, as has been described by fans. As he releases more videos, his innocence and sincerity have also made legions of Chinese urbanites eager for a closer look at his hometown.
Soon after Tamdrin's first video went viral, a local tour operator hired him as the tourism ambassador for Litang. The county, dubbed "the city in the sky," is located over 4,000 meters above sea level. With a population of around 73,000, Litang rose above poverty in February this year.
Tamdrin's overnight fame has given the local government a boost to develop local tourism. Travel websites are tapping into the trend by introducing routes, hotels and places to visit in Litang.
