Recently, an Australian content creator living in Chengdu, known online as “Lao Liang,” has gained huge attention for showing the real efficiency of city management and public services in China.
His short videos documenting his personal experiences have gone viral overseas, with over 1 million views from Western audiences. Many foreign viewers are surprised by how quickly and responsively local governments solve daily problems.
He called 12345 — and problems were fixed in hours
Lao Liang’s videos recorded two similar incidents: one in Chongqing, one in Chengdu.
In February, during a trip to Chongqing, he noticed loose metal plates on the road that created a safety risk. Even with only basic Chinese, he decided to call the 12345 government service hotline to report the issue.
To his surprise:
- The operator spoke fluent English and fully understood his concern.
- The local digital city management center received the case and acted immediately.
- Workers repaired, welded, and stabilized the plates within 7 hours.
- He received feedback as soon as the work was finished.
Lao Liang said he expected the issue to take one to two weeks, not hours.
In Chengdu, he reported a loose manhole cover through the same 12345 hotline. It was checked, replaced, and secured within one day.
Local officials said this high-speed response is not special treatment — it is their standard rule: safety-related complaints must be handled and closed on the same day.
He also experienced China’s fast, affordable medical care
In another popular video, Lao Liang shared his experience of getting a fish bone removed at a hospital in Chengdu.
- The doctor spoke English.
- The whole process — registration, check, and removal — took only 30 minutes.
- It cost about 300 yuan.
He compared this with Australia, where similar treatment can cost much more after insurance, and waiting 4 hours or longer in the emergency room is normal. He even mentioned a friend who waited 15 hours for head injury care.
Many foreign viewers left comments praising China’s efficient and affordable medical system.
“China serves the people” — the key message
What impresses Lao Liang most is not just speed, but the attitude behind it.
He repeatedly says in his videos:
“The Chinese government serves the people.”
He has now made more than 170 videos recording his daily life in China, covering medical services, city management, public convenience, and lifestyle differences between China and the West.
He says he could easily list over 100 examples that show how China prioritizes people’s daily lives and safety.
He will keep showing the real China to the world
Lao Liang plans to continue creating videos from his perspective as an Australian living in China.
He wants the world to see a China that is:
- Efficient
- Responsible
- Warm
- Fast-acting
“It may take decades to fully understand how special China is,” he said. “But I am honored to be a witness.”
