""Chinamaxxing" can mean drinking hot water instead of iced lattes, wearing house slippers indoors, or embracing traditional Chinese skincare routines. On TikTok and Instagram, users joke that they're entering a "very Chinese time" in their lives. The trend has been amplified by Chinese diaspora influencers such as Sherry Zhu, who regularly shares herbal skincare recipes and advice on becoming a Chinese "baddie.""
"Part of that shift came after popular livestreamers Hasan Piker and ISHOWSPEED traveled to China last year, broadcasting visits to high-tech megacities like Shanghai and Chongqing to millions of viewers. Their streams, featuring subway systems, dense skylines, and casual street interviews with ordinary people, were wildly popular on both American and Chinese social media."
"In an interview with NPR, Piker framed the appeal of China in generational terms. "Life is just getting worse, year over year," Piker said, suggesting that younger Americans view Chinese urban development and quality of life as comparatively superior to their own experiences."
"Chinamaxxing" is an internet phenomenon where young Americans embrace Chinese cultural practices, from drinking hot water to using traditional skincare routines. The term uses the internet suffix "maxxing," meaning going all in on something. Chinese diaspora influencers like Sherry Zhu amplify the trend through TikTok and Instagram content about skincare and lifestyle. The movement gained mainstream attention when popular livestreamers Hasan Piker and ISHOWSPEED visited Chinese megacities like Shanghai and Chongqing, broadcasting high-tech infrastructure and urban life to millions of viewers. Their streams showcased modern Chinese cities favorably compared to American life, resonating with audiences experiencing economic dissatisfaction.
Read at www.npr.org
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