Personal — His Story刘宇宁的故事
Hometown roots, the busking/livestreaming years before his debut, and the small details that make the fandom feel like a fandom.
Daimi 呆米
His dog — a recurring, beloved presence in fan content.
Dandong strawberries
His hometown's specialty, and a running fandom motif. See the travel primer below for the Dandong connection.
Childhood & family · 童年与家庭
Born in Dandong
Born January 8, 1990, in Dandong, Liaoning — an only child. His father passed away when he was 4; his mother later remarried, and he was raised by his grandparents.
Dandong Culinary Technical School
Skipped high school for vocational training as a chef — by his own account he doesn't even like cooking, but it meant he could start earning and supporting his grandparents sooner.
Odd jobs
Worked as a chef, a waiter, and a sales associate at fashion stores while still a teenager, well before Modern Brothers or livestreaming.
Breaks out on Douyin
A cover of 《讲真的》("Speaking Truthfully") posted to Douyin in June 2018 goes viral, after years of street performances and livestreaming with Modern Brothers finally reach a mainstream audience.
Modern Brothers · 摩登兄弟
The band Liu Yuning fronted through the busking and livestreaming years — still his official artist billing today ("摩登兄弟刘宇宁").
Formed as a five-piece
Liu Yuning ("Xiao Ning") on lead vocals, alongside Sui Yi ("Da Yi," vocals), Chen Zhuo ("A Zhuo," guitar), Zhang Yu ("Da Fei," keyboard), and Yang Yang ("Yang Zai," saxophone).
Joins YY livestreaming
The band moves onto the YY platform in March, performing covers live. Mid-year, they release their first original single, 《排山倒海》, with American musician Keith Stuart.
Down to a three-piece
Sui Yi and Yang Yang leave the band in March, leaving Liu Yuning, Chen Zhuo, and Zhang Yu as the lineup that continues today. That April, they take their performances from indoor livestreams to the street — Andong Old Street in Dandong, the setting that would define their viral era.
Dandong 101 · 丹东
What it is: Liu Yuning's hometown — a border city in Liaoning province, on the Yalu River directly across from Sinuiju, North Korea, and one of China's best-known strawberry-growing regions.
How to get there: high-speed rail from Shenyang (~1.5–2 hrs) or Dalian; Dandong Langtou Airport has limited domestic flights.
What to do: the Yalu River Broken Bridge, a Yalu River boat tour, Andong Old Street, and — in season — strawberry picking at a local farm.
For the fans: Andong Old Street (安东老街) isn't just a nice photo spot — it's the actual street where Liu Yuning and Modern Brothers busked, and where his 2018 cover of 《讲真的》went viral. It's since become a minor pilgrimage stop, with fans recreating his signature pose at the spot where he performed. Free entry, open 10:00 AM–9:30 PM; locals recommend going in the evening, when the lantern-lit street looks its best.
📍 See a Dandong itinerary on Trip.comSources: Information on this page sourced from Wikipedia, Baidu Baike, IMDb, MyDramaList, Trip.com, and verified fan community discussions.
