Xuebing Monkey, or Rice-cracker Monkey, interacts with a visitor at the Changchun Zoological and Botanical Park on May 2, 2026. Photo: Chen Qingqing/GT

At the foot of a mock "Five Elements Mountain," a "monkey" struggles with only half his body visible above the ground. Nearby, several visitors line up holding rice crackers, eagerly feeding him one piece after another. After swallowing a few bites, the "Monkey King" finally protests in mock frustration:

"This stuff is way too dry! I'm not eating anymore - it scratches my throat. Hurry up and get me something with soup or water!"

The scene, captured in a short video that has spread across Chinese social media, features the now-famous "Xuebing Monkey," or "Rice-cracker Monkey" at the Changchun Zoological and Botanical Park. During the just-concluded May Day holidays, performer Wang Tiezhu, who plays the Xuebing Monkey, won over crowds from across the country with improvised stand-up comedy routines and remarkably lifelike monkey impersonations.

What began as a viral performance quickly turned the zoo into one of the country's hottest holiday destinations, while also giving many visitors a glimpse into what people are calling the essence of the "Northeast Disneyland."

If traditional Disney parks are built on polished fantasy and highly commercialized Western fairy tales, then this homegrown version in northeastern China offers something entirely different: a rough-edged but heartfelt folk fairy tale filled with warmth, humor, and human connection.

There are no sky-high ticket prices, no overwhelming luxury spending, and no carefully manufactured influencer aesthetics. Instead, visitors find affordable admission, budget-friendly food and drinks, and staff members known for their warmth and sincerity. Across the park, a distinctly northeastern style of hospitality is on full display: workers patiently comforting tourists, performers enthusiastically interacting with crowds, and local residents eagerly recommending hidden gems and travel tips.

Blunt yet welcoming, lively yet deeply genuine, the atmosphere allows visitors to experience a unique blend of northeastern China's trademark boldness and tenderness - the very quality many believe has transformed the zoo from an ordinary attraction into an unlikely cultural phenomenon.

Cultural tourism ambassador

During the recent May Day holidays, Wang sat down for an interview with the Global Times.

In front of a stage packed shoulder-to-shoulder with spectators, Wang appeared dressed as the legendary Monkey King. However, unlike the traditional solemn and majestic portrayal of Sun Wukong, his version came with a thick northeastern Chinese accent, playful movements, and an irresistibly goofy charm. 

Feeding rice crackers to visitors, improvising comic interactions, and exchanging blunt yet hilarious banter with the crowd, Wang's spontaneous and authentic performance struck a chord with millions of online viewers, who found both humor and warmth in his act.

A journalist from Jilin told the Global Times that during the five-day May Day holidays, daily visitor numbers at the zoo nearly reached 100,000, with many people coming specifically to see the "Xuebing Monkey."

On Chinese social media platform Douyin, Wang has now amassed more than 4.5 million followers. In his profile description, he calls himself a "Changchun cultural tourism ambassador."

Yet beyond the laughter and viral fame, many online users say they have been especially moved by Wang's difficult personal journey and by the resilience and optimism he has shown in the face of life's hardships. His ability to confront adversity with humor and perseverance has become just as inspiring to fans as the performance itself.

When asked how he would introduce his hometown to the world, Wang spoke with pride and confidence about Changchun's future on the international stage.

"In 2027, Changchun will host the 33rd FISU Winter World University Games," he told the Global Times. "I believe the event will allow friends from all over the world to truly experience the city's charm, as well as the warmth, passion, and sincerity of the people here."

For Wang, the upcoming international sporting event is more than just a competition; it is an opportunity for the world to better understand northeastern China through the character and hospitality of its people.

The popular Xuebing Monkey dances with students in the snow during the opening ceremony of China's 12th National Public Ice and Snow Season in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province, on January 6, 2026. Photo: VCG

'Its own Disney'

Behind the viral success of the "Xuebing Monkey" lies a new formula for tourism in northeastern China. For years, the region's tourism industry largely relied on snow-covered landscapes and natural scenery to attract visitors. 

This time, however, Changchun has charted a different course - one built on human warmth, locally rooted cultural icons, and an affordable, down-to-earth atmosphere.

There are no extravagant amusement rides or flashy marketing campaigns. Instead, it is the city's authenticity, humor, and sincerity that have captured the imagination of millions online. Many social media users have joked that "Northeastern China has its own Disney" - one that may be less polished, but far more comforting and relatable.

The spirit behind the phenomenon extends far beyond Changchun itself. 

Across China's northeast, visitors encounter the same blend of warmth and vitality: outgoing locals, inexpensive yet delicious food, and simple, genuine hospitality. Combined with gentle spring scenery and the region's iconic snowy winters, northeastern China is gradually shedding old stereotypes and presenting itself as vibrant, humorous, and deeply welcoming.

Amid the tightly packed crowds, the wildly popular Xuebing Monkey frequently delivers unforgettable moments infused with unmistakable northeastern Chinese flavor. Dressed in a golden-and-red Monkey King costume embroidered with ornate patterns, he playfully twirls a bright red handkerchief emblazoned with the bold statement: "Revitalize Northeast China."

The fluttering red handkerchief is far more than a simple stage prop. It has become a striking symbol of the region's ongoing reinvention, embodying the grounded vitality of northeastern China and the people's sincere hopes for renewal and revitalization across the country's historic black-soil heartland.