appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Cliff Buddle

Lunar New Year, widely celebrated around the world, has long provided an opportunity for people unfamiliar with Chinese culture to engage with its festive traditions.
The arrival of the Year of the Horse will be marked not only in Hong Kong, mainland China and other parts of Asia, but in cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Paris and Sydney. It is a global celebration enjoyed by Chinese communities and increasingly by non-Chinese participants at new year parades and related events. As many as 2 billion people are estimated to take part.
Governments have recognised the potential commercial benefits of the festival, its appeal to tourists and opportunities for cross-cultural engagement. This is a welcome development.
London will mark Lunar New Year next Sunday with a wide range of events. There is a parade boasting colourful floats and, apparently, “the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe”. The celebrations will include Chinese dance and music, calligraphy, dumpling and lantern making, plus martial arts. There is a “techno lion dance” and a fireworks display. It is an impressive line-up.
Those of us who have moved to the UK from Hong Kong might recall fond memories of Lunar New Year in the city and, perhaps, indulge in a little sentiment. During Britain’s bleak midwinter, with short days, relentless rain and the usual post-Christmas depression, I miss the sense of excitement in Hong Kong as Lunar New Year arrives. The peach blossom and tangerine trees, red decorations and festive feasts live long in the memory as well as the explosion of firecrackers at midnight on New Year’s Eve, at least when I lived in Mui Wo.
But while new year celebrations around the world showcase Chinese culture in the time-honoured way, a surprising social media phenomenon is taking a different path. The trend which sees young non-Chinese social media users adopt simple Chinese daily habits, posting content tagged “becoming Chinese”, has sparked fevered debate. No doubt, the craze will soon be the subject of academic research, if it is not already.
Chinese American Tik Tok influencer Sherry Zhu Xirui began posting videos explaining Chinese lifestyle practices in December, driven by a desire to share her culture. She had often joked with friends who adopted such habits that they were “now Chinese”. The videos quickly went viral, attracting millions of views and bringing her hundreds of thousands of followers.
Non-Chinese users began posting often playful, humorous or ironic content about their adoption of habits ranging from drinking hot water to eating hotpot, wearing slippers indoors or doing tai chi. There has been much discussion about whether the trend amounts to cultural appropriation or appreciation. Some see it as a transient, superficial nod to Chinese culture, embraced in the pursuit of likes or followers.
Some Chinese people overseas, notably in the US, understandably feel uncomfortable or offended by the movement. They are more accustomed to their Chinese practices being mocked, facing pressure to shun them and adopt the culture of the country in which they live. But others have welcomed the trend and see it as evidence of deeper, broader shifts in the way China is viewed around the world. China’s state media has championed the development, claiming it is evidence of Beijing’s soft power. That is a bit of a stretch.
But arguments that the trend, which has grown organically, is a natural consequence of the growing use and popularity of Chinese digital platforms and brands, from beauty products to computer games, soft toys and electric cars, carry weight.
The UK styled itself as “cool Britannia” in the 1990s. Now, perhaps, it is a case of “cool China”. The focus on lifestyle avoids – and is partly a reaction to – the heated political exchanges between Beijing and Western governments.
It is also, for some adherents, a response to US President Donald Trump’s penchant for China-bashing and tough line on immigration, a form of “soft-resistance”. For some, it is simply an opportunity to experience an alternative lifestyle, often in the pursuit of better health and welfare. The trend made me wonder whether, after 28 years in Hong Kong, I had become a little “Chinese” myself. I suspect not. My Chinese friends would probably be both amused and horrified at the thought. I tried to learn Cantonese, with its many characters and nine tones, when I arrived. My efforts were a dismal failure. As one taxi driver put it: “Better you speak English.”
I fared better, of course, with Chinese food and still use chopsticks when eating it, even in the UK. But there are limits. I never did acquire a taste for chickens’ feet. My sons, Hong Kong born, were more heavily influenced. They much prefer two-dish rice to a traditional English roast.
My house in England is furnished with Chinese antiques and full of Hong Kong memorabilia. I still use the Cantonese expression ai ya and find myself shouting wah when watching fireworks. I even drink hot water – a habit most Brits find repugnant – but only when there is no coffee or tea on offer.
Moving to Hong Kong shaped my adult life and is one of the best decisions I ever made. It has had a lasting impact. But none of this means I have even started to “become Chinese”. Returning to the UK meant “becoming British” again. This was not hard. I found that the longer I stayed in Hong Kong, the more I clung to my British cultural roots.
But I recently, out of curiosity, tried a sample “Life in the UK” test, which applicants for British citizenship are required to take. I passed, but only just, getting four of the 24 questions wrong. I wonder how many British people born and bred know the years when Sir Robert Walpole, the first prime minister, was in power!
The “becoming Chinese trend” will, no doubt, fade in the same way as other social media sensations, as users move on to the next obsession. But if the respectful experimentation with Chinese lifestyle habits furthers understanding and engagement between people of different cultures, it can only be a force for good. The trend makes a refreshing change from Beijing’s wolf warrior diplomacy and the hostile statements of the West’s China hawks.
We should all make an effort to be curious about, engage with and understand different cultures. That would make for a better world as we look ahead with hope to the Year of the Horse. Kung hei fat choi!


Cambodia hosts anti-scam summit as scepticism lingers

Foreign chambers back Hong Kong 5-year plan, urge progress on Northern Metropolis

Southeast Asia supports multilateralism, wary of US or China leadership: survey

Will Anwar’s coalition in Malaysia implode amid Loke exit, Najib house arrest?

Australia

Social media’s ‘becoming Chinese’ trend can only be a force for good

A Lion Dance performance takes place at Trafalgar Square in London, United Kingdom, to celebrate Chinese New Year in January 2025. Photo: Calvin Luo

Cultural currents: how ‘Becoming Chinese’ trend is transforming Western lifestyles

Some experts believe that the “Becoming Chinese” trend is a phenomenon that highlights a growing disillusionment among some non-Chinese individuals with their own societal norms. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote

TikTok influencer Sherry Zhu, above, unintentionally sparked a global movement focused on embracing Chinese lifestyle habits, with her videos showcasing these practices garnering over 20 million views. Photo: Instagram

Zhu, second from left, whose father is from Zhejiang province and mother from Guizhou, was raised in New Jersey after her father moved to the US for his studies. Photo: Instagram

Experts said as Western audiences increasingly adopt Chinese lifestyles, they are also reassessing their own cultural identities amid this transformative experience. Photo: Shutterstock

Reflecting on her childhood experiences, Zhu recalled being teased for bringing noodles to school; nevertheless, she refused to let negativity cloud her spirit, proudly embracing her cultural heritage. Photo: Instagram

Following the looming threat of a TikTok ban in the US last year, many Western users flocked to the Chinese platform RedNote, fostering significant cross-cultural exchanges and propelling its rapid rise in popularity. Photo: shobserver.com

How to become a real ‘Chinese baddie’? It’s a lot more than just drinking hot water

Sara Jane Ho shows how to slice an orange elegantly on her Netflix show, Mind Your Manners. In a Chinese home, the act of peeling and cutting fruit for your loved ones is a sign of deep respect. Those wanting to become a true “Chinese baddie” would do well to take heed. Photo: Instagram/sarajaneho

A TikTok user claims she is now a “Chinese baddie” by starting her day with a cup of hot water. Photo: shobserver.com

If you want to be a real “Chinese baddie”, try getting a free dessert at a Chinese restaurant. Just be prepared to eat a bowl of red bean soup. Photo: Jonathan Wong

‘Becoming Chinese’: foreigners adopt habits of drinking warm water, practising qigong

There is an emerging trend where foreigners are embracing various aspects of Chinese culture by adopting habits such as drinking warm water, herbal teas and wearing slippers indoors. Photo: SCMP composite/TikTok

The Chinese lifestyle focuses on harmonising the body, mind, and spirit through gentle practices rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Photo: shobserver.com

TikTokker Sherry, above, a Chinese-American, sparked this trend by sharing her cultural insights online. Photo: shobserver.com

Chinese internet users and media view this trend positively, appreciating the respectful approach many foreigners take to “turning Chinese.” Photo: shobserver.com

Many foreigners have recently adopted the trend of “Becoming Chinese,” integrating elements of Chinese daily life into their routines. Photo: shobserver.com

Practising tai chi is a popular morning exercise in public parks across China, where people gather for group sessions. Photo: Xinhua/Chen Junqing

Opinion

Respectful experimentation with Chinese lifestyle habits can further understanding and engagement between people of different cultures


Respectful experimentation with Chinese lifestyle habits can further understanding and engagement between people of different cultures.


United States

Britain

Hong Kong

Sydney

China society

My Take

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Social media’s ‘becoming Chinese’ trend can only be a force for good

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Respectful experimentation with Chinese lifestyle habits can further understanding and engagement between people of different cultures

Respectful experimentation with Chinese lifestyle habits can further understanding and engagement between people of different cultures