Overview
- Non-Chinese creators are posting viral routines built around Chinese daily habits such as drinking hot water, boiling apples, wearing house slippers, practicing qigong, and eating congee.
- A threatened U.S. TikTok ban pushed many users to China’s Xiaohongshu, and high-profile content like Sherry Zhu’s January clip and influencer tours helped propel the meme into mainstream feeds.
- Chinese social-media users on RedNote report pride, laughter, and discomfort, with some criticizing superficial imitation and misrepresentations tied to Lunar New Year customs.
- Analysts describe a soft-power moment for China but note the content often reflects American youth disillusionment at home more than a deep embrace of Chinese politics or media.
- For many participants the trend operates as wellness role-play or ironic aesthetic rather than cultural immersion, even as Chinese state media amplifies the phenomenon.