Photo: Zhu Fenglian

"I noticed that Mr Chen arrived in Shanghai yesterday. I wish him a smooth and pleasant trip," said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, on Wednesday at a press conference, when responding to a question from a journalist about the live-streamed trip by Taiwan internet celebrity "Kuan Chang" (Chen Chih-han) in the Chinese mainland for six days, aimed at challenging entrenched misleading political narratives on the island of Taiwan. Many in the Taiwan region said his visit would expose the lies of the pro-"Taiwan independence" camp, the journalist at the press conference said.

Chen, often referred to as Kuan Chang (Chinese for gym boss), as he is the owner of a chain of mixed martial arts gyms named Genghis Khan Fitness Club in Taiwan region, arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday for a self-funded tour that he reportedly said was meant to offer Taiwan audiences an unfiltered glimpse into mainland society.

Zhu stated at the Wednesday press conference that "we welcome our Taiwan compatriots, including internet celebrities, to visit the mainland for fresh and high-quality experiences — whether it's sampling local delicacies, enjoying convenient and comfortable transportation, or purchasing premium products. We hope they can share their observations with friends across the Taiwan Straits in a well-intentioned and objective manner to foster mutual understanding."

"Let me emphasize, we believe people on both sides of the Straits will support and welcome anything that enhances cross-Straits exchanges and mutual understanding. Conversely, actions that deliberately obstruct such exchanges, sow discord or undermine mutual trust will be met with opposition and condemnation from compatriots on both sides of the Straits," Zhu said.

According to his published itinerary, Chen arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday evening and took the Maglev train into the city center. His schedule includes: Visiting Xujiahui, the Bund and Nanjing Road, followed by an evening cruise on the Huangpu River on June 11; Exploring the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao and the Yuyuan commercial district on June 12; Touring Lujiazui, ascending the Oriental Pearl Tower, and attending an immersive royal-style banquet on June 13; A day trip to Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, to visit the West Lake and the historic Hefang Street (Ming-Qing style); Visits to Jing'an Temple and Xintiandi before returning to the island of Taiwan on June 15, Taiwan regional media outlet China Times reported Tuesday.

During his first two days in Shanghai, Chen was encouraged by the enthusiasm and hospitality from the mainland residents. 

Multiple Taiwan local media outlets are closely following Chen's trip. According to udn.com, on Wednesday, despite the drizzly weather typical of Shanghai's rainy season, crowds of fans from both the mainland and Taiwan followed his livestream to meet him in person, eagerly taking photos and chatting with the internet celebrity. 

Upon arriving at the Bund on Wednesday afternoon, Chen couldn't contain his amazement at the view of Lujiazui's skyline across the river, according to Taiwan local media. He remarked that based on what he's seen so far, Shanghai's architecture, city size and infrastructure are what "Taipei simply can't compare -- the difference is staggering."

On Tuesday evening, at a local barbecue eatery in Shanghai, Chen barely had time to eat as enthusiastic Shanghai residents kept pouring in for photos with him, bringing along thoughtful gifts - from bottles of premium Guizhou Moutai (each worth over 2000 yuan, or $278.4) to limited-edition Pop Mart collectibles, udn.com reported on Wednesday.

"Kuan Chang has unintentionally accomplished something monumental. Through him, grassroots cross-Straits exchanges have found a new beginning. Watching his videos, I've genuinely felt - for the first time in years - the warmth and goodwill from our compatriots across the Straits…" said a netizen on Chen's livestream Youtube page on Wednesday, which has attracted more than 2 million views. 

"This indicates that there is still vibrant grassroots communication across the Straits, and the feelings of the people on both sides are quite genuine. The enthusiasm shown by the mainland locals toward him reflects a broader warmth toward Taiwan compatriots," Zhang Wensheng, deputy dean and a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The popular YouTuber who was once a vocal critic of the mainland on Wednesday admitted that he had previously criticized the mainland due to misinformation on the island. 

Taiwan island media reported on Tuesday that Chen has admitted that he was once a staunch supporter of the DPP and harbored long-standing hostility toward the mainland. However, in recent years, he began questioning the information gap. "I once swore I would never set foot on the mainland in my lifetime, but now I've chosen to see it for myself," he said, hoping his journey would help more people understand the truth.

Chen was also quoted by Taiwan local media as saying that "Taiwan has been severely isolated from information about the mainland. I too once believed what the DPP claimed - that mainland residents couldn't afford tea eggs, that toilets had no doors, and that high-speed trains had no seatbacks. But this time, I'm going to see the truth for myself." And this time, during his livestreamed trip, those lies by the DPP have been debunked.

Zhang said that the influencer's live broadcasts can provide a direct reflection of the reality in the mainland, which can help correct some distorted perceptions among Taiwan compatriots. "This approach, where a Taiwanese influencer shares their experiences, is likely to be more persuasive for the Taiwanese audience," Zhang said.