China’s house mover Jia Yuhui, 45, has surprised many people with his fluent English. Illustration photo by Pexels
China’s house mover Jia Yuhui, 45, has surprised many people with his fluent English, prompting them to reach out online to learn from him.
Living in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, he has quickly become an internet sensation, according to Jiupai News. His Douyin account now boasts over 2.8 million followers, featuring videos of him hauling refrigerators and pianos up old walk-up apartment buildings while speaking English with a distinct Australian accent.
One of his most popular videos shows him carrying a heavy refrigerator up seven flights of stairs while narrating in English; it has amassed more than 280 million views and stayed on the trending list for over a week.
Jia said the attention has changed the course of his life.
Jia came from a once affluent family, which allowed him to spend 10 years studying in Australia. After returning to China, he attempted several business ventures, but all his ventures collapsed, leaving him heavily in debt, the South China Morning Post reported.
Two years ago, he began working as a mover in Xi’an, taking on physically demanding jobs from 4 a.m. and earning just 200–400 yuan (US$30–40) per shift.
Since August, Jia has uploaded 46 videos documenting his moving jobs, each dubbed in English. He said he uses English to boost engagement and attract viewers. The contrast between his manual labor and his clear, confident English has drawn massive attention. His clips show him navigating narrow staircases with a piano, assisting a family with 11 large dogs, and patiently waiting as clients sort out disputes.
More people started commenting to ask for English-learning tips, and before long, these inquiries outnumbered those requesting his moving services.
On Nov. 28, Jia launched an online English class priced at 999 yuan. All 1,200 spots sold out in 47 minutes. “I will guide them to speak English and to gain confidence,” he said.
Several language teaching centers in China and abroad have also invited him to teach.
His story has inspired Chinese young people seeking meaning in their work. A reader commented on Weibo: “Success is not just about money, but about finding joy and dignity in any work you do.”
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