"By Chinamaxxing we see TikTokers trying to quickly become Chinese through customs and pastimes (qigong stretches, drinking hot water in the morning, learning Mandarin on Duolingo, binge-watching Chinese period dramas etc). You met me at a very Chinese time in my life, reads the favoured accompanying caption."
"To Chinamaxxing fans themselves, it's a playful cultural exchange, with some Chinese-American creators noting that after years of feeling excluded because of their differences, it's touching to see them celebrated."
"To some critics, this wholesale flattening of an enormous country into little more than a vibe leaves a bitter taste and seems a bit rich when just a few years ago, east Asian diaspora communities were experiencing so much hostility as they were blamed for Covid."
Chinamaxxing is an internet trend where primarily Gen Z users adopt Chinese customs, aesthetics, and practices such as qigong, drinking hot water, learning Mandarin, and watching Chinese dramas. The term uses the suffix 'maxxing,' meaning extreme pursuit of something. Supporters view it as playful cultural exchange and celebration, particularly meaningful to Chinese-American creators who historically faced exclusion. Critics argue the trend flattens an enormous country into superficial aesthetics and cultural appropriation. This concern intensifies given recent anti-Asian hostility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The phenomenon reflects broader tensions between genuine cultural appreciation and commodification of culture on social media platforms.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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