Wearing a pink wig and pajamas to match, Frenchman Josselin Sautetner, 32, appeared in a music video singing a Chinese love song in various areas of Kunming, Yunnan province.

The song, Thinking of You So Much, is a catchy number that has become popular in China over the past year.

It has appealed particularly to young female singers, who have performed it in music videos in cities across the country to promote travel attractions with a special appeal to young lovers.

Sautetner became an internet star after his music video on the delights of Kunming became a hit on Sina Weibo. It was played more than 10,000 times just hours after going online.

Sautetner, from Lyon, arrived in scenic Kunming, in southwest China, last November and was bowled over by its charms.

He calls himself "a Kunming resident from France", and considers the city a haven that has allowed him to refocus on what is important in life.

It is not difficult to spot him. He is more than 1.9 meters tall and tends to stand out, as does his ability to speak various languages.

Talking to China Daily, he exchanged greetings in perfect Chinese and his Gallic roots added a charm and vitality that seemed boundless.

His passion for travel has taken him to several countries. He can also speak English and Dutch.

He once had a steady job in the Netherlands but the urge to see, to explore, to reach out would not be compromised. He went to Africa to reflect on what he wanted to do.

After his return to France, his wanderlust only got worse, he says, and he came to China at the invitation of a friend in 2007.

He took the opportunity to visit a number of cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya in Hainan province and Chongqing.

Something was changing: He still had a yearning for new experiences but the destination seemed to fit his requirements.

Even with little understanding of Chinese he was attracted by the culture.

"Deep in my heart I knew I was going to live in China," he says.

However, he had other matters to attend to and left, but he returned in 2011 for a friend's wedding. It was not until November, when he arrived for a third time, that he decided to settle in Kunming.

"Although I have been to other provinces and cities, I was deeply intrigued by the climate and environment. It is wonderful here."

While in Europe, Sautetner was determined to learn more about China and improve his communication skills. He searched for Chinese-language songs on the internet and tried to familiarize himself with the lyrics, a dictionary on hand for anything he could not understand.

After settling in Kunming, he was even more determined to get a grip on the language and enrolled in a course.

Now he can communicate with locals in simple Chinese and understand a lot of what he reads in newspapers. He spends between four and five hours a day on the four key language skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing.

He uses WeChat in Chinese.

Asked about his online fame, Sautetner says making videos is simply a hobby and he has been amazed by the attention they have drawn.

"I'm an optimistic and extroverted person. I want to spread my joy by sharing videos."

The wig and pajamas, he says, allow him to take on an alter ego and become confident enough to sing in public.

He now plans to produce a video every week and put it online. One offering, Because of Love, was released on Sept 2.

However, he prefers directing to singing and dancing, he says.

While he has no plans to leave Kunming, he says life can lead a person to unexpected places.

He wants to master the language and become a French language teacher in China.

This should probably come relatively easily to him, given that he has done a lot of the hard work already.

Contact the writers at liyingqing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 10/21/2016 page22)