Youth organization reaches out to web influencers

The All-China Youth Federation, a youth organization whose members have typically come from elites in government offices, State-owned firms and colleges, is reaching out to some of China's most popular livestreamers, video bloggers and hip-pop dancers.

Among them is Li Ziqi, a video blogger with 11.9 million followers on YouTube and 26 million on the Sina Weibo microblogging service. The 30-year-old has soared to fame over the past year by vlogging about traditional food and rural life.

Viya, 35, a youth-icon-turned-livestreamer on e-commerce platform Taobao, was also elected a member. She is a top seller of products ranging from cosmetics to farm produce during marathon livestreaming sessions, and has amassed hundreds of millions of fans, mostly young urbanites. She also provided funding to 37 poor rural schools as part of her charity endeavors.