New Delhi: Adopting Chinese practices and culture in Western countries, particularly in America, is the new trend sweeping Gen Z social media feeds. Young Americans are copying everything from typical Chinese morning routines to Tai Chi, language study, and fashion style. Chinamaxxing, as it is being called, is spreading quickly online and changing thoughts on how people across the world see China through social media.
Some pose in traditional clothing and sip warm apple-boiled water. Others practice Tai Chi or the morning exercise routine Baduanjin in their kitchens, or make a show of removing their shoes before entering rooms. Red Adidas tracksuits in the style of Beijing uncles or Olympic athletes are part of the look, as are indoor slippers.
Users have posted videos of themselves learning Chinese, trending the hashtag #newlychinese. American news channels are discussing Chinamaxxing too. Unlike South Korea’s Hallyu and the K-pop wave, Chinese hard power preceded its soft power by a mile. That’s now catching up.
“If you are truly in a Chinese time in your life, why are you not booking that flight to China?” reads one Instagram caption to a video showing a Toronto-based woman slurping congee for breakfast.
It’s not just Americans embracing the Chinese way of life.
“My time in China was life-changing and it deeply shaped how I see the world. Seeing Chinese culture, aesthetics and travel become more popular brings both beauty and memory,” wrote a Mexican woman, Cynthia, in an Instagram post, adding that she found it “beautiful” that more people were falling in love with China.
One Chinese diplomat posted on X that Chinamaxxing is more than a trend.
“As the real China comes into full view, a new chapter of deeper global engagement begins,” wrote Yu Dunhai, Chinese ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, the trend is also facing criticism. Melissa Chen, cofounder of the nonprofit Ideas Beyond Borders, wrote in an X post that the phenomenon is misleading because Chinamaxxing is not really possible.
“Why? There are many areas that are restricted for security reasons, requiring additional permits beyond visas, curfews, checkpoints and bans. Please tell me if you can freely go to Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan border areas or Sichuan Tibetan prefectures. So you didn’t Chinamaxx. You Chinaminned,” she wrote.
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How it started
The trend traces back to 23-year-old Chinese American TikToker Sherry Zhu, who began sharing Chinese cultural practices with her over 7 lakh followers.
In an interview, Zhu said it is less about her popularity and more about Chinese culture gaining attention.
“It’s not accurate to say that it is just a joke or meme now because I think the impact is something greater. There is an attitude shift and people are now learning more about Chinese culture,” said Zhu. She added that there had not been much exposure to Chinese culture in the West earlier, but social media and technology are changing that.
It is part of a growing fascination with China as the country focuses on expanding its soft power.
“China feels much more present in everyday American life than it did even a decade ago. China looks different in the American imagination than it did in previous generations because social media has made information about and from China more accessible,” said Caroline Ouellette, a researcher at University of California, speaking to Time.
The Chinese government is also investing in portraying a positive image of the country globally. According to Chinese state media, a new initiative will pay for US influencers to visit China and collaborate with local counterparts.
“[I’m] glad to see that more and more foreign friends show interest in experiencing today’s China and exploring the Chinese people’s everyday life, and that they have the opportunity to do so,” said Lin Jian, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, commenting on the buzzword “Becoming Chinese”.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)