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Chinamaxxing is boosting China's soft power
Summary
A TikTok trend called Chinamaxxing has popularized Chinese wellness and lifestyle habits in the West, drawing attention from Chinese media and officials.
Content
A social media trend known as Chinamaxxing has spread on Western platforms, especially TikTok, where users share Chinese wellness and daily-life practices. Videos show habits such as warm apple‑boiled water, indoor slippers and longevity exercises, often captioned with the line "you met me at a very Chinese time in my life." The meme has been amplified by creators such as Sherry Zhu, a Chinese‑American TikToker with a large following, and by movements of US users to Chinese apps like RedNote. Chinese state and state‑linked outlets have responded positively, while reactions inside China have been more muted.
Notable facts:
- Chinamaxxing is a TikTok-originated trend showing Western users adopting Chinese lifestyle elements.
- Examples cited include apple‑boiled water, slippers, longevity exercises, and fashion or media tastes.
- Sherry Zhu, a Chinese‑American creator, is named as a leading promoter and has hundreds of thousands of followers.
- Chinese state-linked media and a foreign ministry spokesperson framed the trend as evidence of growing appeal for Chinese everyday life.
- The coverage notes limited public reaction inside China and highlights domestic challenges such as youth unemployment above 15%, a strained property market, and strict online censorship.
Summary:
The trend has increased visibility of parts of Chinese culture and been welcomed in some official Chinese outlets, while observers caution it reflects only a slice of everyday life. Undetermined at this time.
