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Wearing Slippers, Drinking Hot Water, Practicing Baduanjin: This Generation of Foreigners Collectively 'Diagnosed' as Chinese

An article from The New York Times Chinese website explores the viral TikTok trend where Western users humorously "diagnose" themselves as Chinese by adopting certain lifestyle habits. These include wearing slippers indoors, practicing the exercise Ba Duan Jin, using pillow covers, drinking hot water (often with apples, red dates, or goji berries), and embracing aunty-style floral cotton jackets. What began as a joke evolved into a popular meme, with users enthusiastically sharing their "very Chinese moments" and exploring details like whether to peel apples or switch to pears. While some Chinese-American influencers act as cultural arbiters, promoting practices like hotpot dinners or traditional medicine, others criticize the trend for oversimplifying and fetishizing Chinese culture. The phrase "diagnosed as Chinese" is particularly contentious, evoking racist stereotypes heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the trend reflects a surprising shift towards admiration, with users praising China’s high-speed rail, electric vehicles, and affordable healthcare. The article notes that this fascination coexists with political tensions, such as the potential TikTok ban in the U.S., which drove users to Chinese app Xiaohongshu. Ultimately, the trend highlights both a romanticized vision of Chinese life and the complex dynamics of cultural exchange on social media.

比推03/20 19:18

Wearing Slippers, Drinking Hot Water, Practicing Baduanjin: This Generation of Foreigners Collectively 'Diagnosed' as Chinese

比推03/20 19:18

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