“Drinking hot water” has become an unexpected life philosophy on TikTok, with countless users tracking their journey toward “becoming” or “becoming Chinese.” It’s all part of a broader trend on social media dubbed “Chinamaxxing.”
It may seem strange out of context: Thousands of Chinamaxxing videos — often accompanied by the caption “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life” — show users from different backgrounds participating in traditional Chinese practices and wellness rituals. This might look like going to bed early, wearing slippers indoors, eating congee, or doing traditional stretching exercises to improve energy flow.
The Chinamaxxing trend is a unique example of cross-cultural admiration via digital media. It reflects the West’s growing public interest in traditional Chinese medicine and culture – and shows us more broadly how social media can reshape the way we Thinking and interacting with other cultures.
Luxury ideas in China
Digital spaces are increasingly shaping how cultures are understood and shared.
Recent articles have documented this shift. Journalist Zoe Chang reports “I became Chinese” The TikTok trend describes how non-Chinese are experimenting with wellness habits rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. This comprehensive framework, developed over centuries, is grounded in the theories of qi (vital energy), yin and yang (complementary forces), and the five elements.
Some of the videos are satirical – almost like a parody. But as Zhang W Others noticedmany of which represent a genuine attempt to engage thoughtfully with Chinese culture. In most cases, even funny videos are not ridiculous account For Chinese people or culture.
Global Times correspondent Xu Liu Liu Suggests direction This marks a move from superficial fascination to a more reflective form of engagement with Chinese culture. For example, many users point out how Chinese practices associated with moderation, balance, and longevity can serve as an antidote to a culture of burnout.
Viral trends as soft power
Popular memes like “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life” aren’t just trivial; It can be viewed as Cultural vehicles. Memes help condense complex cultural narratives and practices into an engaging and shareable format.
For example, a short TikTok video about refusing ice water represents a centuries-old medical philosophy linked to the concepts of bodily balance and internal heat.
Through repetition, these types of visual narratives can become familiar, or even desirable, to audiences far removed from their original context.
It is an example of “soft power,” which refers to a state’s ability to shape global perceptions of itself through its depiction of culture and values.
In the age of TikTok, Xiaohongsu (Red Note), and Instagram, soft power no longer flows solely through movie studios or state-sponsored media. It also travels through influencers’ kitchens, beauty vlogs, and comments sections.
This latest wave of content promoting Chinese culture feels intimate, local, and desirable.
Is it accreditation?
The Chinamaxxing trend has led many to ask an important question: Are we witnessing cultural appreciation, appropriation, or something in between?
Many users adapt and Remixing practices to suit their own livesand you may lose important context or dates when doing so. On TikTok and Instagram, traditional Chinese medicine may be boiled down to a checklist of habits: avoid cold drinks, boil ginger, prioritize rest. This kind of oversimplification threatens to separate practices from the important philosophies that underpin them.
At the same time, it may be reductive to dismiss the entire trend as mere personalization. Many creators credit their sources, share family stories, and collaborate across cultures. Many of them are members themselves Chinese diaspora living in West.
Instead, we might view this trend as a kind of cross-cultural renaissance, mediated by algorithms.
Why this moment is important
The Chinamaxxing trend has been largely driven by US-based Generation Z users. Although it is difficult to know for sure, some commentators believe it may stem from this group’s growing disillusionment with its government.
The popularity of this content speaks to many contemporary Western concerns. A culture of burnout, climate uncertainty, and economic precarity has made the West’s culture of extreme self-care seem hollow.
This trend of celebration Chinese culture This comes at a time when some Western ideological structures are under intense scrutiny. Perhaps this makes Western audiences wonder whether… Anti-Chinese sentiment They have been exposed to it through their own institutions and should be questioned.
The challenge is to remain reflective. Sharing can deepen cross-cultural understanding – but only if curiosity extends beyond memes. Drinking hot water may be simple, but understanding the worldview behind it requires more ongoing research.
As user-generated digital content continues to bridge the distance between cultures, it is in our collective interest to connect with each other beyond the algorithm.
Article via chat by Justin Poplin
