In the era of trends and influence, a new trend, 'Chinamaxxing' has been trending on social media in the western part of the globe. The trend has seen people taking on Chinese lifestyle habits and wellness practises in viral TikTok clips.
From sipping warm boiled water with fruit to wearing indoor slippers and doing longevity exercises, thousands of users are posting clips of themselves “learning to be Chinese.” Many videos feature captions like “you met me at a very Chinese time in my life”, a nod to the film Fight Club, as well as hashtags like #newlychinese.
A Shift in Cultural Perception
The trend represents a significant shift in perceptions of Chinese culture in the West. Practices that were once stereotyped as dusty or out-of-style are now being reframed through an aspirational or wellness lens.
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Chinese brands have also received more visibility abroad. Consumers worldwide have queued up for collectables like Labubu dolls and flocked to expansive chains such as Mixue Ice Cream and Tea, and Luckin Coffee. At the same time, the southwestern megacity of Chongqing has exploded in online popularity, to be often referred to by visitors as a “cyberpunk city,” thanks to its dramatic skyline and layered urban geography.
Analysts say the trend comes as China’s global cultural footprint and post-pandemic tourism efforts. China has flaunted rapid progress in infrastructure, high-speed rail, electric vehicles, renewable energy, robotics and artificial intelligence in recent years.
The emergence of Chinamaxxing stands in direct contrast to the spike in anti-Asian sentiment seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many people of Chinese descent reported experiencing discrimination overseas. With strict lockdowns implemented in China and an ongoing cold snap with Western governments, global perceptions had only grown more strained.
Now some observers say the trend also reflects a wider change in attitudes, particularly among younger people. American users’ arrival on the Chinese social media platform RedNote, creating a digital crossover ahead of a potential US TikTok ban, set in motion memes and cultural exchanges that quickly spanned platforms.
A Chinese-American TikTok creator named Sherry Zhu, who shares traditional wellness advice, calls her followers her “Chinese baddies,” playfully imploring viewers to adopt elements of living as the Chinese do.
Digital Curiosity
Projecting the phenomenon may also reflect a changing global sentiment, experts say. Some young Americans, grappling with economic uncertainty and political polarisation at home, are more frequently looking beyond their borders.
Though Chinamaxxing is still even more an online phenomenon fueled by memes and short-form content, it points to a larger moment of cultural curiosity, and a reminder that digital platforms will always alter the fabric of global narratives in strange ways.