Smile of the Plateau makes Ding Zhen new icon of Sichuan and Tibet

A 20-year-old youth of the Tibetan ethnic group in SW China's Sichuan province has become an internet sensation for his good looks and innocent smile.

Tenzin, whose name in Chinese is Ding Zhen, took the internet by storm after a photographer posted a video of him on Douyin, a domestic version of the TikTok short video platform. Many netizens, especially female ones, said Tenzin had "stars in his eyes" and his smile was "angelic and comforting".

The youngster has been appointed to promote tourism in Sichuan's Litang county. A promotional short clip Ding Zhen's World, which he shot for his hometown of Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, was released online on Nov 25, attracting the attention of internet users across China.

Video provided by Bureau of culture, radio, television and tourism of Garze prefecture, Sichuan province, co-produced by Time Island and Bureau of culture, radio, television and tourism of Garze prefecture, Sichuan province.