“If I Had a Yuan for Every Time”: Mpumalanga Woman Shows How She’s Famous With Locals in China
- A Mpumalanga woman studying at Soochow University shared how locals in China constantly approach her for photos
- Faith Malebana joked that if she had a yuan for every photo request, she'd own China, showing how her presence attracts attention from curious locals
- Social media users were impressed by her celebrity-like status in China, with many suggesting she should capitalise on her fame
Source: Facebook
A young woman from Mpumalanga has become almost like a celebrity in China, with locals constantly asking to take photos with her during her studies abroad. Faith Malebana shared a video on 30 July 2025 that quickly went viral with over 10,000 reactions, showing just how popular she's become with Chinese locals. Her caption read:
"If I had a yuan for every time someone asked for a photo... I'd own China."
The video shows Faith being approached by local people wanting to take pictures with her. In the footage, one young girl takes the picture with both of them posing with peace signs. Then, when the young woman leaves, another person immediately approaches for their own photo opportunity. This seems to be a regular occurrence for the South African student who is studying Chinese Language and Culture at Soochow University in Suzhou, Jiangsu.
Faith regularly shares content about her experiences living and studying in China, giving her followers a glimpse into her daily life in the country. Her videos often show her exploring different places as an international student.
Faith Malebana has been studying at the university since 2024, and her experiences have clearly made her stand out among the local community. Her friendly personality and willingness to interact with locals have made her something of a local celebrity in her area.
Source: Facebook
Mzansi reacts to the woman in China
@Nona Mazibuko asked:
"Are you telling me you just took pictures with two different people?"
@Nozipho Ziphow Sibiya suggested:
"I would definitely capitalise on this."
@Nothando Maoze advised:
"Ask for one, mama, you went there to make money."
@Sabz Radebe wondered:
"Which part of China?"
@Salvador Sylvester Lamar Jr. commented:
"You china famous!"
@Vanessa Khanyisa Hlungwane gushed:
"You are a celebrity over there, love it for you."
@Mahendru Druzah wrote:
"Wow, this is really nice."
How understanding different cultures promotes growth
According to Les Elfes International, learning about different cultures brings many benefits that help communities grow and become more open. It allows people to have better interactions and reduces judgment about things they don’t understand. By learning about other cultures, people gain empathy and respect, while appreciating both what they share and what makes them different.
Being aware of other cultures also helps break down barriers and makes it easier to communicate across different backgrounds. This is especially important today, as people from all over the world connect more often. Facebook user @Faith Malebana’s time in China shows how cultural exchange can build positive relationships, even when language or customs are different.
Watch the Facebook clip below:
Other stories of South Africans abroad
- Briefly News recently reported on a Durban woman taking Mzansi vibes to China with dance lessons for local children, but the unexpected reaction from Chinese parents to South African culture surprised many viewers.
- A Korean lady dressed in Zulu attire at the Seoul Africa Festival performed traditional dances with amapiano moves, though her surprising connection to South African culture left people with questions about her background.
- Chinese aunties were amazed by a South African woman's body shape and followed her to see if it was real, but their curious behaviour revealed something deeper about cultural differences.
Source: Briefly News
