Wang Zhi, the young vendor who has become a social media sensation. [China Sina Finance]
Wang Zhi, the young vendor who has become a social media sensation. [China Sina Finance]

A young man selling chicken rice at a night market in China has become an overnight sensation, drawing so many customers that daily sales have jumped more than 30-fold — and lifted the fortunes of neighboring stalls along the way.

According to Chinese outlets including Sina Finance on Monday, Wang Zhi, a vendor born in the 2000s, has gone viral on SNS for his striking looks while running a stall at a night market in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

Wang runs the stall with his girlfriend. A customer first filmed Wang at work and posted the footage online, and the clip — showing Wang chopping chicken and preparing dishes — quickly spread, drawing widespread attention to his appearance.

The contrast between Wang's idol-like looks and the modest surroundings of a street stall has made him particularly popular among young women.

As the video circulated, foot traffic at the night market surged. Daily sales of Wang's chicken rice, which had stood at just three or four portions, climbed to as many as 130 — a phenomenon locals have dubbed the "Wang Zhi effect."

The buzz around Wang has benefited not only his own stall but also nearby vendors, who say their sales have risen noticeably.

One merchant near Wang's stall estimated that the night market's overall sales had increased by 30,000 to 40,000 yuan ($6,000) or more since Wang became famous.

A vendor selling jianbing crepes right next to Wang's stall said, "Since Wang arrived, I think I've been selling at least 100 more a day," expressing gratitude for the spillover business.

Wang's girlfriend said she starts each day by styling Wang's hair and applying light makeup before they open for business.

A street vendor surnamed Lee who went viral in South Korea for resembling actor Cha Eun-woo. [Instagram capture]
A street vendor surnamed Lee who went viral in South Korea for resembling actor Cha Eun-woo. [Instagram capture]

Meanwhile, South Korea saw a similar phenomenon recently when a fish-shaped pastry vendor in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, surnamed Lee went viral for bearing a resemblance to actor Cha Eun-woo. Word of mouth spread online, drawing a steady stream of customers — mostly women — to the stall, which was nicknamed "Bung-eun-woo," a portmanteau of "bungeoppang" (the Korean fish-shaped pastry) and the actor's name.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com