【By Chen Sijia, Observer Network】Recently, a trend called "Chinamaxxing" has emerged on overseas social media platforms such as TikTok. More and more young people in the West have begun to learn Chinese health practices like drinking hot water and wearing slippers to "become Chinese".

American cable news network CNN wrote on February 25 that the wave of Asian culture has repeatedly swept Western countries. In the past, what attracted Westerners were Japan and South Korea, but now it's China's turn. However, unlike Japan and South Korea, China is not an ally of the United States, but rather has long been positioned by the US as a "rival." The popularity of "Chinamaxxing" reflects the disillusionment of young people in the West with the US.

On social media platforms like TikTok, young people in the US and other Western countries are competing to imitate Chinese health practices. They joke that this can help people "become Chinese." For example, one TikTok influencer posted a video about learning Chinese morning exercises, which received over 30,000 likes; another posted a video about making apple water, which has exceeded 2.4 million views.

Many of these videos also come with the hashtag #newlychinese (newly Chinese), and some users even imitate lines from the movie "Fight Club," saying: "You met me at a very Chinese moment in your life."

Foreign netizens share "becoming Chinese" on social media

CNN said that the phenomenon of Asian cultural waves sweeping the West has occurred multiple times before. Korean TV dramas and music are widely popular in the West, and Japan is also a popular tourist destination for Westerners. However, the trend of "Chinamaxxing" is different: both South Korea and Japan are allies of the United States, while China is regarded by the US as a "major competitor."

The article pointed out that trade disputes and geopolitical tensions have deepened anti-China sentiment in American society over the past few years. Now, young Americans are embracing "Chinamaxxing," which seems to indicate that the atmosphere in American society is changing.

In the view of analysts, this trend reflects Americans' dissatisfaction with their lives. Political turmoil, gun violence, and racial issues have undermined the image of the United States, sparking curiosity among Americans about how people live in China. The US still dominates global culture, but the decline in its image has reshaped people's perceptions.

One key milestone was last year's "big accounting" between Chinese and American netizens. After the US government threatened to ban TikTok, a large number of American social media users moved to the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu, which allowed two groups that had previously been active in different online spaces and rarely interacted to connect directly.

CNN believes that as the US's tough immigration policies have prompted students to avoid the US, and policies that cut research budgets have led top scientists to work in China, and the trade war has caused anger and dissatisfaction among US allies like Canada, the sense of disillusionment among young Americans with the US has grown deeper. The videos they share about China reflect this sense of loss.

For example, videos showing the landscapes of big Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Chongqing have gone viral on American social media. These videos show clean streets, good public security, and a futuristic urban lifestyle. Short videos showcasing China's skyscrapers, drone light shows, and transportation systems have become popular, and Chinese electric vehicles and clean energy have also become hot topics.

After the phenomenon of "Chinamaxxing" became popular, foreigners visit China

Even CNN, a US media outlet, has to admit that although Chinese society is not perfect, the scenery shown in these videos contrasts sharply with the aging infrastructure and high cost of living in the US. Tianyu Fang, a PhD in the history of science from Harvard University, said: "The current trend more reflects Americans' feelings toward the US, rather than their feelings toward China."

However, this trend has started to make some Americans realize that their previous views of China were inaccurate. Due to US policy restrictions and import control measures, Chinese electric vehicles and smartphones, which are common in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Pacific island countries, have been difficult to enter the US market. But now, many Americans have gradually discovered the influence of Chinese products.

Fang said: "Many Americans have slowly realized that these are products that China has been producing for a long time, and their quality is quite good. It's precisely because these products were not allowed into the US market for a long time that there was a lag in perception."

He said: "For a long time, people believed that compared to Japan and South Korea, China's soft power was not so strong. We have seen that in the past few months, this has changed - Chinese video games, Chinese movies, and even toys like Labubu are reshaping the perception of Chinese culture in the US and throughout the West."

CNN admitted that China has long attracted cooperation from Westerners through its economic potential, but now, more "cool" Chinese culture is also fascinating Westerners. It is hard to say how long this trend of "Chinamaxxing" will last on Western social media. However, in the context of continued intense Sino-US geopolitical competition, this trend has built an unexpected "digital bridge" between the two major powers.

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7610805097668346395/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.