A TikTok trend encouraging users to adopt Chinese habits and aesthetics has divided opinion among the Chinese diaspora, with some calling it jarring while others welcome the exposure. Dubbed 'Chinamaxxing', the phenomenon involves creators drinking hot water, using chopsticks, and celebrating Lunar New Year, often racking up hundreds of thousands of views.
For many of Chinese heritage, the sudden interest feels disorienting. 'It can feel like a direct challenge to the identity of those within the diaspora,' says British author Jenny Lau. Content creator Vanessa Li from Sydney questions why non-Chinese creators are sharing tips on holidays they have never celebrated, adding that trends are disposable by nature.
Others worry about cultural appropriation. Sherry Zhu, a prominent Chinamaxxing creator from the US, fears traditional medicine is being reduced to a wellness fad. 'I don't want people to forget the benefits that my culture is providing,' she says.
Media studies professor Jamie Cohen traces the trend to early 2025, when many users joined Chinese social media app Red Note, seeing a side of China rarely portrayed in Western media. He describes it as 'a de-propagandisation device' that revealed commonalities between ordinary people despite different political systems.
Cohen also links Chinamaxxing to a broader disillusionment with the West, suggesting young people have 'lost faith' in US cultural and democratic leadership. The trend, he argues, is a coping mechanism amidst shifting global perceptions.
Members of the diaspora recall past shame around their heritage, exacerbated by anti-Asian attacks during the pandemic. The sudden celebration feels bittersweet, especially when non-Chinese creators seem to gain the most success. Whether the appreciation outlasts the algorithm remains uncertain.
