What I Noticed When the Internet Tried to “Become Chinese”

As someone who grew up with these practices, watching this trend unfold has been… surprising. In the best way.

I first saw the "becoming Chinese" videos the way many of you probably did: scrolling through TikTok, pausing on a clip of someone brewing goji berry tea or soaking their feet in a wooden bucket.

The caption said something like: "First time being Chinese… kinda nervous."

I smiled. It was funny, playful, a little silly. But then I kept scrolling. And I kept seeing it. Again and again. People drinking warm water, wearing slippers indoors, cooking congee for the first time. And the comments — thousands of them — were not making fun. They were asking questions:

"What time should I drink warm water?"

"How do I make congee?"

"Is there a specific way to soak my feet?"

As someone who grew up with these practices — who watched my grandmother drink warm water every morning, who changed into house slippers the moment she walked through the door — I found myself unexpectedly moved.

What They Were Actually Doing

I've thought a lot about why this trend resonated so deeply. And I don't think it was about "becoming" anything. I think it was about trying.

There's a kind of curiosity that goes beyond watching from a distance. It's the curiosity that says: I want to know what this feels like.

And that's what I saw happening. People weren't just observing Chinese culture. They were participating in it — in the most everyday, unglamorous ways possible. A cup of water. A pair of slippers. A bowl of congee.

It reminded me of something my grandmother used to say: "Your body knows. You just have to give it a chance to speak."

Why These Small Things Matter

What surprised me most about the trend was how consistently people reported the same things: better sleep, calmer stomachs, a sense of ease they hadn't expected.

And here's the thing — these aren't secrets. In the Chinese tradition I grew up with, these small habits are just… normal. You drink warm water because cold water is a shock to the system. You wear slippers because your feet are connected to everything. You soak your feet in the evening because it tells your body: the day is over, time to rest.

These practices aren't about fixing something after it breaks. They're about daily maintenance — small, gentle acts that accumulate over time.

And maybe that's what people were actually looking for. Not a cure. Just a way to feel a little more settled, a little more cared for, at the end of the day.

A Conversation Across Cultures

I've lived between cultures for long enough to know that no way of life is "better." But I do think there's something valuable about borrowing practices that work for you — regardless of where they come from.

What made this trend different, for me, was the spirit behind it. It wasn't about appropriation. It was about appreciation. People weren't trying to be Chinese. They were trying to feel better, and they happened to find some tools that helped.

As someone who grew up with those tools, watching people discover them with such genuine curiosity has been a strange kind of joy.

If You're Curious

If you've been watching this trend and wondering what it's like to actually try these practices, I'd say: pick one. Start small. See how it feels.

You don't need to "become" anything.

You just need to begin.