Zhejiang, China, September 10, 2026 — Four international creators with million-scale social media audiences recently completed a visual expedition across Zhejiang Province as part of the “Discover China Through Zhejiang” International Cultural Exchange Program, showcasing the region’s historic water towns, bamboo forests, mountain landscapes, cultural heritage, and modern urban development to global audiences.

Lifestyle creator John Maggi (@realjohnmaggi), photographer and filmmaker Harish Kumar (@childishharish), cinematic travel storyteller Nolan (@nolanontherun), and FPV drone pilot Parker Sheppard (@pshepfpv) traveled through three distinct areas of Zhejiang, documenting their experiences for audiences across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Together, the four creators reach millions of followers worldwide. Rather than following a single itinerary, the program developed customized routes around each creator’s visual specialty, allowing different aspects of Zhejiang’s geography and culture to be presented through distinct storytelling formats.

The first route focused on Modern Jiangnan, with Maggi and Kumar exploring the historic water towns of Hangzhou and Wuzhen. Their journey featured mist-covered canals, traditional stone bridges, historic architecture, and local tea culture before moving into Hangzhou, where centuries-old traditions coexist with the city’s rapidly developing digital technology sector.

The second route, Mountains & Zen, brought filmmaker Nolan to Anji and Taizhou. The journey highlighted Anji’s expansive bamboo forests, Tiantai’s Buddhist heritage, temples, and surrounding mountain landscapes, providing a cinematic look at a side of China that is less commonly represented through major-city imagery.

The third route, Hidden China, took FPV drone pilot Parker Sheppard through Wenzhou and Lishui. Using high-speed aerial cinematography, Sheppard captured dynamic perspectives of Baizhangji Waterfall, Yandang Mountain, and Chenjiapu, an ancient cliffside village in Songyang.

For the participating creators, the experience challenged assumptions about China’s landscapes and demonstrated the diversity that exists beyond the country’s largest metropolitan areas.

“I had a completely different picture of China in my head before this trip,” said John Maggi. “Wuzhen felt almost timeless, and then in Hangzhou, you’re surrounded by this completely modern, innovative city. The contrast was incredible.”

Nolan described a similar shift in perspective after traveling through Zhejiang’s rural and mountainous regions.

“I honestly didn’t expect China to look like this,” said Nolan. “You hear so much about the major megacities, but then you get out here and you’re surrounded by endless bamboo forests, temples, and mountains. It completely changed the picture of China I had in my head.”

Beyond social media exposure, the initiative is also designed to connect digital travel discovery with actual tourism. The three creator-led routes are being developed into bookable travel itineraries for international visitors, creating a direct pathway from online content to destination experiences.

The program reflects a broader evolution in destination marketing, using international creators and specialized visual storytelling to introduce travelers to destinations through firsthand experiences rather than conventional promotional campaigns.

Key Highlights of the Zhejiang Creator Program

• International creators with million-scale audiences documented Zhejiang for global social media audiences.
• Three customized routes showcased different geographic and cultural aspects of the province.
• Hangzhou and Wuzhen highlighted Jiangnan heritage alongside modern technology and urban development.
• Anji and Taizhou showcased bamboo forests, Buddhist temples, and mountain landscapes.
• Wenzhou and Lishui featured waterfalls, mountains, ancient villages, and aerial FPV cinematography.
• Creator-led routes are being developed into bookable travel experiences for international travelers.
• The initiative combines cultural exchange, destination marketing, social media storytelling, and tourism development.

As international travelers increasingly discover destinations through social platforms, creator-led tourism campaigns are becoming an important way to provide visual and experiential perspectives on places that may be unfamiliar to global audiences. Through the “Discover China Through Zhejiang” program, Zhejiang aims to broaden international awareness of the province while encouraging direct cultural and tourism connections.

About “Discover China Through Zhejiang”

The “Discover China Through Zhejiang” International Cultural Exchange Program promotes global cultural understanding, tourism, and media collaboration by bringing international storytellers to Zhejiang to experience and showcase the province’s diverse landscapes, cultural heritage, traditional communities, and modern development.

Media Contact
Company Name: UNIPX MEDIA, LLC
Contact Person: Zhejiang
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: https://unipxmedia.com