Most of Li’s family members were initially hesitant about her pursuit of singing English songs, considering it unconventional for a woman her age
2-MIN READ2-MINAlice Yanin ShanghaiPublished: 2:00pm, 8 Sep 2026A 62-year-old woman from southern China, who cannot speak standard Mandarin or recognise the English alphabet, has gone viral on social media for singing over 100 songs in six different languages.
Li Deru, known online as @Auntie Ru, boasts 800,000 followers and has garnered millions of likes across both domestic and international social media platforms.
In addition to English, Li performs songs in Korean, Japanese, Thai, Hindi, and Italian.
In her videos, Li, always elegantly dressed, confidently sings English songs, albeit with a strong accent, while walking slowly and calmly in parks or scenic locations.
Over the past three years, she has shared more than 100 English songs, all popular hits among young audiences.
The songs Li has covered include Poker Face, Jar of Love, Taylor Swift’s Love Story, and Justin Bieber’s Baby.
