You might not be familiar with the name Bowen Yang, but you’ve definitely seen him on Saturday Night Live (SNL). He has played Shanghai Mayor Chen Biao, reacting to TikTok bans and the China–U.S. trade war. He was also famously the iceberg that sank the Titanic.
Bowen has gained popularity from his incredible comedic talent on SNL and other mainstream U.S. media platforms, as well as from his insightful podcast appearances. But now, Bowen is just being Bowen. He recently took a trip back to Inner Mongolia and Shenyang, reconnecting with his heritage.
Bowen’s father was the classic high-achieving student from a rural Inner Mongolian village. He was admitted to Northeastern University in China in the 1980s and later went abroad to Australia for further studies. That marked the beginning of Bowen’s family’s migration story—and where Bowen was born. They later moved to Canada, and now, Bowen Yang is one of the most recognized comedians in New York City.
Bowen’s trip through Mongolia and China felt deeply authentic. He visited his ancestors’ cemetery and helped clean the graves. Traditional yellow and red talismans were burned—a key ancestral ritual that was not overlooked.
And of course, food was central to the journey. In Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia, Bowen was seen with his sister sitting together on the kang—a traditional heated brick bed—eating youmian, one of the region’s signature dishes. In Shenyang, he helped promote his cousin’s hot pot restaurant. His fluent Mandarin (with a slight Dongbei accent) caught everyone by surprise. Bowen’s return to Asia thrilled thousands of his fans in China, who left witty and heartfelt comments on his social media. Bowen appreciated the love and responded with several posts and stories in Chinese.
Looking at why we’re so proud of Bowen: he stands out as a rare figure who never stereotypes or undermines Chinese or Asian identities—even in the world of comedy, where offensive content is often normalized. He remains objective, sharp, and undeniably funny.
After watching the star experience a trip like this, it’s even clearer why we’re all obsessed with him. While Bowen Yang shines on another continent, he never forgets his roots.
