An American vlogger in China has shot to fame on mainland social media – and attracted the interest of celebrities – with his invention of the “city or not city” meme.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.

But the mysterious half-faced mask has also spawned a popular meme and tribute videos on social ... of the most important archaeological sites in China - soon joined in on the fun.

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I am co-chairman and co-founder of Marcum Asia. There are few sentiments as seductive to youth as pessimism and none so poisonous.

Expressed largely in online memes and jokes - but also now a marketing trend that sells bubble tea, among other things - China's "sang wenhua", or "sang" culture, is a movement that ironically ...