Americans Go All In on Viral Chinese Lifestyle Trend, Adopting Chinese Wellness Habits and Daily Routines in “Chinamaxxing”
Some Americans aren’t just ordering General Tso’s—they’re reshaping their daily routines around Chinese customs, right down to their house slippers. In a report for the Wall Street Journal, journalist Hannah Miao describes a growing group of mostly non-Chinese enthusiasts sometimes called “Chinamaxxers,” who say they’re trying to live as “fully Chinese” as possible after discovering lifestyle content on TikTok and the Chinese app Xiaohongshu. Their habits can include drinking hot water instead of iced beverages, eating congee for breakfast, simmering apples for digestion, brewing herbal teas with goji berries, practicing qigong-style exercises, and even asking AI what to buy at Asian supermarkets.
Miao explains that the prospect of a U.S. TikTok ban last year pushed some Americans toward Chinese social media, where travel vlogs, cultural exchanges, and viral wellness tips began to recast China—from geopolitical rival to lifestyle inspiration. State outlets in Beijing have welcomed the trend, but reactions among Chinese Americans are mixed. Some who once faced ridicule for these same customs now see them celebrated online and feel their heritage is being treated like a trend or costume. Others hope the curiosity will grow into deeper respect for Chinese people themselves, not just their practices.
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