📅 Updated: 2025
📍 Target Audience: U.S. Brands & Marketers
📖 Reading Time: ~8 min
📄 Introduction
When it comes to social media marketing in China, Douyin (TikTok China) is an absolute game-changer. With over 600 million daily active users, this short-video platform is dominating the digital space, making it a must-have for brands looking to enter the Chinese market.
But here’s the catch: Chinese consumers don’t just buy from brands—they buy from people they trust. That’s where Douyin influencers, also known as KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders), come in. These influencers have built massive, loyal audiences, making them powerful partners for brand collaborations.
🚀 So, who are the top Douyin influencers you should work with? In this guide, we’ll introduce the 10 biggest Douyin stars and explain how they can boost your brand awareness and sales in China.
🎯 Why Work with Douyin Influencers?
Before we dive into the list, here’s why partnering with Douyin influencers can be a game-changer for your brand:
✅ Massive Reach – Douyin has over 600 million daily users, and top influencers have tens of millions of followers.
✅ Authenticity Sells – Chinese consumers trust influencers more than traditional ads.
✅ E-Commerce Power – Many Douyin influencers sell products directly through live streams, generating millions in revenue.
✅ Trend-Driven Algorithm – Unlike WeChat or Weibo, Douyin promotes viral content, helping brands get massive exposure fast.
💡 Pro Tip: If your brand is in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, fitness, or tech, Douyin influencers can drive serious engagement and sales.
📢 Top 10 Douyin Influencers for Brand Collaboration
Here’s a handpicked list of China’s biggest Douyin stars, spanning comedy, beauty, lifestyle, and e-commerce.
1️⃣ Yang Ge (Crazy Xiaoyangge) – “King of Comedy”
📌 Niche: Comedy | Viral Content | Entertainment
📌 Followers: 118M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 🎭 Most-followed influencer on Douyin
Yang Ge is Douyin’s #1 influencer and the king of viral comedy. His short, humorous skits get millions of views, making him a great fit for fun, engaging brand campaigns.
🏆 Best for: Mass-market brands, entertainment, fast fashion, and snack foods.
2️⃣ Chen Xiang (Half Past Six) – “Family Favorite”
📌 Niche: Comedy | Family Content | Lifestyle
📌 Followers: 69M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 👨👩👧 Huge appeal to family audiences
Chen Xiang specializes in relatable, family-oriented skits, making him a great choice for brands targeting parents and everyday consumers.
🎯 Best for: Home & kitchen brands, family products, kids’ toys.
3️⃣ Ares Cheng & Yan Zhen – “China’s Favorite Couple”
📌 Niche: Lifestyle | Travel | Relationships
📌 Followers: 44M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 💑 Perfect for romance & lifestyle brands
This influencer power couple shares their daily life, relationship tips, and travel adventures, making them ideal for lifestyle and luxury brands.
✨ Best for: Fashion, jewelry, luxury travel, and couple-friendly products.
4️⃣ Austin Li Jiaqi (The Lipstick King) – “Beauty Sales Machine”
📌 Niche: Beauty | Live Streaming | E-Commerce
📌 Followers: 50M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 💄 Once sold 15,000 lipsticks in 5 minutes
Austin Li is China’s #1 beauty live-streamer and has worked with Dior, YSL, and MAC. If you’re a beauty or skincare brand, he’s THE influencer to work with.
💡 Best for: Cosmetics, skincare, beauty tech, luxury fashion.
5️⃣ Wang Hongquan – “Luxury Lifestyle Icon”
📌 Niche: Luxury | Cars | Real Estate
📌 Followers: 4M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 🚗 Strong appeal to high-end consumers
Wang Hongquan lives the luxury life, showcasing expensive cars, high-end watches, and VIP experiences. If your brand is luxury-focused, he’s the influencer you need.
🎩 Best for: Luxury watches, designer brands, high-end travel.
6️⃣ Dong Yuhui – “The Educator Turned Influencer”
📌 Niche: Education | Business | E-Commerce
📌 Followers: 30M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 📖 Highly engaged audience in the self-improvement space
A former English tutor, Dong Yuhui turned his education platform into a sales empire, blending language learning with product promotions.
🎯 Best for: E-learning, books, online courses, and self-improvement brands.
7️⃣ Papi Jiang – “China’s Queen of Satire”
📌 Niche: Comedy | Social Commentary | Lifestyle
📌 Followers: 40M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 🎤 Sharp, witty, and highly influential
Papi Jiang’s satirical videos have made her a household name in China, making her perfect for brands looking to do creative, out-of-the-box marketing.
🏆 Best for: Entertainment, tech, lifestyle, quirky brands.
8️⃣ Tian Xiang – “Live Commerce King”
📌 Niche: E-Commerce | Sales | Product Demos
📌 Followers: 35M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 🛍️ Sells over $15M worth of products per week
Tian Xiang is one of Douyin’s top live-stream sellers, proving live commerce is the future. If you want fast, direct sales, he’s your guy.
🎯 Best for: Consumer goods, electronics, fashion.
9️⃣ Liu Genghong – “China’s #1 Fitness Influencer”
📌 Niche: Fitness | Wellness | Sports
📌 Followers: 40M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 🏋️ Made home workouts a trend in China
Liu Genghong’s fitness live streams went viral during lockdowns, and he’s still one of China’s top fitness KOLs.
💪 Best for: Sportswear, supplements, wellness brands.
🔟 Anny Fan – “China’s Fashion Darling”
📌 Niche: Fashion | Beauty | Luxury
📌 Followers: 25M+
📌 Why Collaborate? 👗 Works with Dior, Gucci, Chanel
Anny Fan is one of China’s top luxury influencers, making her a perfect brand ambassador for international fashion and beauty brands.
👠 Best for: Luxury fashion, high-end skincare, premium lifestyle brands.
📢 Key Takeaways for U.S. Brands
📌 Douyin influencers drive MASSIVE sales and brand awareness in China
📌 Live-streaming is the #1 e-commerce trend—brands should leverage it
📌 Beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands thrive with influencer partnerships
🚀 Ready to break into China’s Douyin market? Find the right influencer, craft a solid campaign, and start engaging Chinese consumers today!
