Chinese American TikToker Sherry started the “becoming Chinese” vogue by sharing her cultural insights online. She stated with mock solemnity: “Tomorrow, you’re turning Chinese. I know it sounds intimidating, but resisting it now is pointless.”
When a country becomes stronger, everything it claims is validated. Likewise, when a country is weak, nobody pays attention to your lifestyle. The logic behind the trend is the strength of Chinese nation and the rising appeal of Chinese culture.
The surge of trend reminds me of the phenomenon “TikTok refugee” on Xiao Hong Shu last March, a Chinese social media app used by thousands of millions of Chinese. The two are similar, both generated by the appeal of Chinese culture.
“Becoming Chinese” doesn’t mean changing nationality, but choosing a Chinese lifestyle, including drinking warm water instead of cold, wearing slippers indoors rather than walking barefoot, consuming cooked vegetables instead of raw greens in salads.
When foreigners truly feel relief from menstrual pain and notice better sleep through imitation, they must be grateful to the wisdom of Chinese culture. “Becoming Chinese” is not about submission, but a choice, a recognition, far beyond a simple online frenzy. When foreigners strive to learn how to live like Chinese, I, as a Chinese, know the land beneath my feet is precisely the vast sea of stars that countless people in this era look up to with longing.