Five Million Flood the Livestream! Douyin’s New Top Star Emerges, Surpassing Dong Yuhui

Who would’ve guessed that the breakout “dark horse” of Douyin’s 2026 New Year Shopping Festival livestream sales wouldn’t be a veteran e-commerce anchor—but Li Yapeng?

Honestly, when I first saw the numbers, I was stunned too. With Spring Festival just around the corner, every major streamer is negotiating campaign terms and gearing up to compete head-to-head for the top spot. And yet, the moment Li Yapeng stepped into the arena, he didn’t just make noise—he surged past Dong Yuhui and took the crown as Douyin’s new No.1 livestream seller.

After returning to livestreaming following a week-long break, even Li Yapeng likely didn’t expect the sheer wave of traffic that would pour into his room. Viewers kept streaming in nonstop, and the live audience count rocketed beyond 100,000+. In less than 90 minutes, sales reportedly exceeded RMB 50 million—and nearly every product that went live sold out in seconds. If your fingers weren’t fast enough, you simply didn’t stand a chance.

Image source: Douyin

What made the moment even more striking was how decisively he climbed to the top. That livestream pushed Li Yapeng straight to No.1 on Douyin’s overall sales rankings, with both heat and revenue far surpassing the second-place account, “Yuhui Tongxing.” And that’s no small feat. Dong Yuhui has long been considered one of the most dominant figures in livestream commerce—so much so that you’ll still see constant posts from fans raving about the products they’ve bought from his channel. This time, though, Li Yapeng didn’t just edge him out—he left a wide gap.

And it wasn’t a random fluke.

Li Yapeng’s sudden rise is better understood as the culmination of several recent headline-making moments—especially one event that reshaped public perception in a powerful way.

Not long ago, he released an unedited, half-hour video addressing the situation facing the Smile Angel Children’s Hospital (Yanran Angel). With more than RMB 26.68 million in unpaid rent and the institution reportedly facing relocation—or even closure—he didn’t try to play the victim or dodge scrutiny. Instead, he laid out the hospital’s work over the past 14 years: 11,000 cleft lip and palate surgeries completed, 7,000 of them fully funded for patients at no cost.

Even while dealing with business setbacks and ongoing debt-related controversies, he emphasized that he never walked away from the hospital. He reportedly even signed on as an unlimited joint-and-several liability guarantor, choosing to shoulder the pressure rather than shifting responsibility. That combination of transparency, accountability, and refusal to “spin” the story hit a nerve across the internet.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

And once public attention snowballed, the momentum became unstoppable.

Topics related to Li Yapeng reportedly surpassed 800 million views across platforms and dominated Weibo’s trending list for days. His follower count soared as well—gaining more than one million in just six days. So when he finally launched a sales livestream, many viewers showed up not only to shop, but to support: those who could contributed through purchases, while others boosted visibility with likes, comments, and shares.

In the end, that collective energy helped propel his livestream to the top of Douyin’s overall sales chart—while his charity initiative reportedly raised more than RMB 10 million in donations.

Notably, he also turned off tipping. Throughout the broadcast, he repeatedly bowed to thank viewers and continuously reminded everyone to “shop rationally.” In a way, that helped strengthen the appeal of the model: when consumers feel their purchases are connected to a meaningful cause, they’re often more willing to buy—and to buy sincerely.

Since his breakout moment, public opinion has shifted dramatically—almost like a massive, real-time “I take it back” moment. Where there used to be widespread skepticism and ridicule, there’s now overwhelming praise. Some people said, “We’re not buying tea—we’re buying compassion.” Others suggested he expand into more everyday, affordable products so the goodwill can last longer. After all, emotional resonance can drive attention, but only quality and value can retain customers.

And that’s the real point: Li Yapeng becoming Douyin’s “new top streamer” isn’t about celebrity aura—it’s about trust, built on one word: sincerity.

Livestream commerce has matured to the stage where audiences can recognize套路 and scripts instantly. If you want repeat buyers, you need either outstanding quality or genuinely strong value for money. Traffic is temporary; longevity requires character and credibility. When sincerity meets consistency, that’s when “attention” turns into “lasting influence.”

More importantly, by linking commerce with charity, Li Yapeng may have created a positive feedback loop—where business supports public good, and public trust supports business. That kind of cycle is arguably what livestreaming should be striving toward.

Image source: Weibo

Of course, sustaining this momentum is the next challenge. Protecting his reputation, maintaining product quality, and ensuring the charity-business relationship remains transparent and durable—those will be the real tests going forward.

But if nothing else, this moment has reminded people of something they hadn’t expected to say again: Li Yapeng still has that old-school sense of loyalty and responsibility.

Have you come across his livestream yet?