At the beginning of 2026, a trend imitating the Chinese lifestyle, called “Becoming Chinese,” swept across foreign social media platforms, with related TikTok topics surpassing 500 million views.
The starting point of this “Chinese lifestyle imitation show” was a short video posted by Sino‑American blogger Sherry Zhu on foreign social media. Facing the camera, Sherry Zhu declared: “Starting tomorrow, you will ‘become Chinese.’” She then introduced Chinese lifestyle habits cultivated since childhood in the video: “Are you still drinking iced water? Haven’t I already told you to drink hot water?” “From now on, don’t wear your outdoor shoes at home, we all wear slippers.”
The video quickly garnered millions of views, with foreign netizens leaving comments. What began as a playful imitation challenge soon turned into a genuine craze that captivated countless foreign netizens, drawing them into immersive participation. They started posting on social media about their daily routines of drinking hot water, making soups, cooking porridge, while others donned newly purchased cotton slippers and enjoyed goji tea. Netizens from various countries, with an attitude of appreciation and learning, carefully documented their experiences practicing Chinese wellness routines.
This craze for imitating the Chinese lifestyle not only sparked global online interest in the theme of “Chinese wellness,” but also signified that “Becoming Chinese” involves a thorough exploration of Chinese life in its smallest details. Some foreign netizens wore red clothing and accessories for good luck during the Spring Festival, while others even took up mahjong.
The expression “Becoming Chinese” among foreign netizens does not originally refer to a change of nationality, but rather to a voluntary release from past stereotypes and a shift in perspective from “observing with curiosity” to “deep engagement.” It is about putting this into practice and personally experiencing the Chinese way of life, starting with simple things like a pair of slippers or a cup of hot water.
BecomingChinese #ChineseCulture
(Source: People’s Daily Online)