An entire tourist industry has emerged around the origin story of Liang Wenfeng, the visionary behind Deepseek, whose low-cost AI model has disrupted the global tech landscape.
When China’s latest tech sensation returned home for the Spring Festival, he was greeted like a national hero. Crowds gathered outside his house, police Swat teams stood by, and parents brought their children in hopes of inspiring them to follow in his footsteps.
Liang, the founder of Deepseek, has become a symbol of China’s rising AI prowess. His achievements are not only fueling national pride but also aligning with President Xi Jinping’s push for technological self-sufficiency. At this month’s National People’s Congress, AI and high-tech innovation took center stage, reinforcing the idea that “learning from Liang” is a national imperative.
His home village of Mi Li Ling in Guangdong province has transformed into a shrine dedicated to its most famous son. The street leading to his house is now called “Top Scholar Road,” while vendors sell “Top Scholar Biscuits” and Deepseek-branded merchandise to eager tourists. Tour operators even offer combined trips to Liang’s birthplace and the village of Olympic diving champion Quan Hongchan, reinforcing the narrative of China’s homegrown success stories.
Liang’s rise from a humble background to tech stardom is a textbook example of the “China Dream.” A former top student, he was captain of the Communist Party’s Young Pioneers and excelled in mathematics from an early age. Now, his achievements are inspiring a new generation of students, with schools emphasizing his disciplined approach to education and technological innovation.
Deepseek made waves in January when it launched a generative AI model rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost. The announcement sent shockwaves through global tech markets, even causing a dip in Nvidia’s stock, as Deepseek’s innovation challenged the dominance of US AI firms.
For President Xi, Deepseek’s success is timely. Amid economic slowdowns and Western trade restrictions, he has doubled down on high-tech innovation as a path to self-reliance. Liang was a notable attendee at a high-profile tech summit in February, where Xi pledged support for China’s tech leaders while urging them to align their work with national priorities.
Despite his newfound fame, Liang remains elusive, having given only two interviews. But his influence is undeniable. His company’s achievements have bolstered China’s position in AI development, proving that domestic talent and resources can drive world-class innovation.
For many Chinese citizens, Liang’s story is a testament to national progress. Outside Wuchuan Number 1 High School, retired tourists from Shanghai snapped photos in front of the gates, basking in the reflected glory of China’s latest technological triumph. As one visitor put it, “What’s better is when you look at his colleagues at Deepseek. They are all Chinese. They were all cultivated only by Chinese universities!”
