The global embrace of Chinese culture

A visitor takes a selfie with Chinese women dressed in Tang Dynasty-style attire at a Chinese culture theme exhibition of the 119th Foire de Paris in France on April 30. [Zeng Xianping/Xinhua]

From video games to team ceremonies and ice cream, country making deeper global connections

On a bustling February afternoon in Mexico City, Liu Yixuan, a 29-year-old engineer, found herself standing in line for almost an hour at a Chinese tea shop.

The Mixue Group — the largest new-style tea chain in China — had just opened its first branch in the city's downtown area, offering its classic ice-cream cone for 8 pesos ($0.45) — one of the lowest-priced sweet treats in the capital.

Earlier, Liu had joined in the vibrant Chinese Cultural Year celebrations at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the city's culture center, where the air was alive with the rhythmic beats of lion and dragon dances. On display were the colorful sights of Peking Opera masks' intricate artistry and demonstrations of the tradition of writing fu (good luck) characters for Spring Festival.

A week earlier, Mexico City, about 12,500 kilometers from Beijing, hosted a large parade to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse.

"In recent years, Chinese culture has become increasingly tangible here, weaving into the fabric of daily life — with delicious food, entertainment and full of experiences," said Liu.

She has worked in the city for three years and seen a growing interest in Chinese culture. Her Mexican colleagues, for instance, asked her about Chinese New Year traditions and learned about the custom of giving red envelopes. They subsequently gave red envelopes to their family members and said they found the custom very interesting.

The Chinese influence extends beyond festivals. In suburban supermarkets, Liu has spotted backpacks adorned with Labubu dolls and claw machines brimming with the popular plush toys.

In Mexico City she can even find some distinct flavors from home, such as malatang, a spicy hot pot from Sichuan province, and Lanzhou beef noodles from Gansu province. Many Mexicans frequently enjoy these Chinese delicacies, she said.

Chinese language students perform Chinese crosstalk during a Spring Festival gala at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cotonou, Benin, on Feb 11. [Seraphin Zounyekp/Xinhua]

Still 'becoming Chinese'

The past few years have witnessed a remarkable surge in the global influence of Chinese culture and products, from tasty culinary delights to cutting-edge innovations such as Chinese smartphones and robotics.

The viral sensation of "becoming Chinese" has taken social media by storm, as people worldwide embrace distinctly Chinese lifestyle habits, like sipping hot water, wearing slippers at home, and adopting other cultural elements in their everyday lives.

This phenomenon was sparked by Chinese American content creator Sherry Zhu, who launched a playful and engaging series on Tik-Tok titled "becoming Chinese" in December.

The series, consisting of more than 20 videos, serves as a practical guide to adopting Chinese lifestyle habits and cultural practices. What began as a lighthearted joke among friends has evolved into a global phenomenon.

In the videos, Sherry, who has over 9 million TikTok followers, shares insights into Chinese perspectives on wellness and household customs. Her fun yet informative content inspired a wave of imitators on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

They enthusiastically promote practices like soaking your feet in warm water before bed, sipping ginger tea, and trying acupuncture, further fueling the trend of embracing Chinese-inspired wellness routines.

Zhu said in the past there wasn't much exposure to Chinese culture in the West, however, attitudes are now changing, and there is a more positive approach.

"I feel like this trend is actually opening up more education, and more exploration and appreciation of Chinese culture. People are ... making Chinese culture their own," she said.

A customer walks out of an outlet of ChaPanda, a Chinese tea beverage brand, in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan 2. [Yao Qilin/Xinhua]

Shu Yong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, said Chinese culture has become more accessible to foreigners.

"Traditional Chinese cultural symbols — such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, and Peking Opera — have often seemed lofty and distant to foreigners, sometimes perceived as inaccessible or difficult to engage with," he said. "In contrast, Chinese culture today has become deeply integrated into everyday life worldwide, influencing habits from food and fashion to daily routines. This shift has made Chinese culture more interactive and approachable, vastly narrowing the cultural gap."

Those impressive cultural symbols used to feel like watching a performance through glass. Foreigners would find them beautiful and moving, "but they couldn't fully immerse themselves and take on an active role", he said.

"What we are now witnessing is a new phenomenon, where people around the world are willingly participating in Chinese culture and genuinely integrating it into their lives," he said.

As a political adviser, Shu, over the past decade, has focused on the construction and promotion of China's cultural identity, frequently submitting proposals on the topic.

He believes that cultural symbols are some of the most powerful and accessible forms of communication.

"They provide a way for others to immediately sense and understand our cultural essence. These symbols can manifest visually, through taste, through sound, or even as a philosophy or way of thinking," Shu said.

He pointed out that in a world increasingly marked by uncertainty, anxiety has been on the rise.

However, the inherent peaceful nature deeply embedded in Chinese culture, along with its philosophy of harmony between humans and nature, offers an effective way to address their concerns and comfort their emotions, he said.

A student tries on a traditional Chinese ethnic costume during an event marking International Chinese Language Day in Moscow on April 20. [Alexander Zemlianichenko JR/Xinhua]

Increased visibility

The development of internet technology has made cultural dissemination more efficient, turning the world into a global village, Shu said.

For Generation Z, and other younger generations who prefer living in virtual worlds, advances in gaming technology have provided them with more opportunities to engage with Chinese culture in digital spaces.

"To understand the Chinese 'spirit of chivalry' in the martial arts game Where Winds Meet, I dove into the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) period," commented Jason, a gamer from North America, on a game forum.

"Now, I can even name the locations of the 16 prefectures of ancient China within the game."

Jason's remarks on Steam encapsulate the cultural discovery journey undertaken by millions of players worldwide.

The martial arts game, set against the backdrop of ancient China, showcases a rich tapestry of traditional Chinese architecture, ancient capital cities, and key outposts and trading hubs along the ancient Silk Road. It has captivated a global audience, attracting over 9 million players overseas within just two weeks of its launch, with mobile pre-registrations surpassing 5 million, according to developer NetEase. By December 2025, its global player base had surged to 15 million.

Following the success of Black Myth: Wukong, which sold nearly 30 million copies and won the Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year, Chinese martial arts games have achieved a reputation reversal.

Overseas players have transitioned from unfamiliarity with "Eastern fantasy" to proactively researching intangible cultural heritage elements and historical backgrounds in the games, even voluntarily correcting cultural misunderstandings.

Li Zhigang, a 25-year-old martial arts game enthusiast, said it is not rare to encounter Chinese martial arts game players who speak different languages. Recently, he made an effort to learn English to introduce foreign players to the historical background and characters, such as Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), in Where Winds Meet. Occasionally, he also explains the core values and philosophies of China's martial arts to other players.

In November, while playing another martial arts game Sword of Justice, he led a 12-member team that included players from Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Li used broken English to guide everyone on how to collaborate. After three hours of teamwork, one player messaged Li asking him to teach some basic Chinese phrases commonly used during gameplay.

"I find it very interesting. One of my main motivations for learning English now is to explain the cultural background of China to foreign players," he said.

A Chinese musician interacts with a local visitor at the Kuwait-China Cultural Center in the Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, on Nov 24. [Asad/Xinhua]

Zhang Taofu, a communication professor at Fudan University, said an important factor behind the growing interest in and embrace of Chinese culture is China's increasing visibility on the global stage.

As China's interaction with the world continues to expand in both depth and breadth, the era of relying solely on a limited number of media outlets or communication channels, characterized by relatively closed information, has come to an end.

"This increased visibility also means that more people now have the opportunity to visit China in person, to see it with their own eyes, to actively participate, and to gain a firsthand understanding of the real China," he explained. "This direct experience has helped break down past stereotypes about China, marking a significant and transformative shift," he added.

The most noticeable trend so far this year was the bigger number of foreigners who came to China to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, border inspection authorities nationwide processed 1.31 million entries and exits by foreign nationals, marking a 21.8 percent daily increase compared with the previous year. Among the inbound foreign visitors, 460,000 entered under visa-free policies, data from the National Immigration Administration showed.

Many foreign tourists sought immersive traditional holiday experiences such as wearing hanfu, making dumplings, crafting sugar figurines and watching fireworks displays.

Briton George Miller and his wife spent 10 days in China in February to experience the Chinese New Year. During their trip, they visited Xi'an in Shaanxi province, Chengdu in Sichuan, and Beijing. In April last year, the retired couple both in their 60s, traveled to Yunnan province where they explored the region's diverse ethnic cultures and stunning natural landscapes.

Miller shared their photos on social media, sparking the admiration and curiosity of friends and relatives. Many of them expressed a desire to visit China and experience it themselves. Miller said that he could feel the presence of Chinese culture everywhere — from the variety of products to delicious restaurant meals.

"The Chinese culture and lifestyle quietly and subtly influence everyday lives," he said.

Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, a CPPCC National Committee member from Hong Kong, has established more than 10 Choi Centres that promote Chinese culture across the globe.

He vividly remembered launching the Choi Centre in Vietnam 11 years ago, and the challenges and skepticism he initially encountered. Now, with the rising global fascination for Chinese culture, many regions and countries are inviting him to establish new centers.

The cultural centers showcase elements of the Chinese lifestyle, such as listening to guzheng music and enjoying tea. His team is introducing "exciting" tea experiences at the centers, such as blending traditional tea with cocktails and other creative combinations, all of which have received positive feedback, he said.

"My foreign partners have shown great interest in the Chinese lifestyle I present," said Choi, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate Sunwah Group.

Shu, the political adviser, believed that now is a critical moment for Chinese culture to go global. He stressed that Chinese culture needs to be integrated into all aspects of daily life rather than simply becoming a passing trend.

"How to make culture truly resonate and endure is a gradual process," Shu said.

"It's similar to chili peppers, which were originally introduced to China from abroad. Over time, they have become an indispensable part of our culinary traditions, as if they were inherently ours."