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AI generated via Freepik | If your TikTok FYP has recently shifted to serene videos of people boiling apples and obsessing over the temperature of their water, don’t panic, you aren’t lost in the algorithm. You’ve just arrived at a “very Chinese time” in your life.
TikTok’s “becoming Chinese” trend is all about cosy habits, hot water, and wholesome winter wellness vibes.
If your For You Page has suddenly swapped dance challenges for steaming mugs, simmering apples, and people whispering about “warm energy”, do not panic. You have not broken the algorithm. You have simply entered your “becoming Chinese” era.
TikTok has entered its cosy era
This viral TikTok trend is less about identity and more about embracing a lifestyle inspired by traditional Chinese habits. Think hot water, winter wellness, gut health, and living like a calm, moisturised main character. The name might sound wild at first, but the vibes? Immaculate.
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Pinterest/Glow Notes By Ava | The trend began with Chinese creators sharing everyday cultural routines, from seasonal food choices to traditional health practices and Douyin-style makeup looks.
What “becoming Chinese” actually means
The trend began with Chinese creators sharing everyday cultural routines, from seasonal food choices to traditional health practices and Douyin-style makeup looks. Non-Chinese viewers then jokingly declared they were also “becoming Chinese” as they adopted these habits.
Chinese American creator Sherry, one of the trend’s biggest faces, playfully told her followers that they were “turning Chinese”, framing it as an inevitable lifestyle upgrade rather than a cultural shift. Her humour, mixed with genuine cultural insight, made the trend feel welcoming instead of awkward.
Surprisingly, the internet did not cancel it. In fact, the Chinese community gave it a collective green flag.
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X/girl__virus | Surprisingly, the internet did not cancel it. In fact, the Chinese community gave it a collective green flag.
Appreciation, not appropriation
Unlike many culture-based trends, this one has been praised for its respectful tone. Chinese creators are leading the conversation, sharing traditions openly and encouraging others to learn.
Commenters have pointed out that the trend focuses on appreciation rather than claiming ownership of the culture. It is about enjoying the practices, not rebranding them.
Sherry later shared that seeing people embrace these habits seriously meant a lot to her, especially when followers started asking genuine questions about food, health, and seasonal routines.
How to enter your “Chinese era”
If January has left you feeling cold, tired, and emotionally fragile, this trend is basically a warm hug.
First rule: ditch the iced drinks. Cold water is considered bad for digestion, so hot water becomes your new personality.
Second: winter is Yin season. That means slow living, rest, and warm meals. Raw salads? Out. Stews, beans, and porridge? In.
Third: boiled apples are the star of the show. Simmered with goji berries and red dates, they are the ultimate cosy-girl snack for gut health.
Fourth: protect your energy. Forget intense workouts. Yoga, sleep, and relaxation are the new flex.
And finally, never walk barefoot on cold floors. Your kidneys deserve peace.
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AI generated via Freepik | For Chinese people, boiled apples are the star of the show. Simmered with goji berries and red dates, they are the ultimate cosy-girl snack for gut health.
The soft life, but make it Chinese
At its core, the “becoming Chinese” trend is about slowing down, listening to your body, and romanticising the little things. It is wellness, but make it warm, gentle, and slightly dramatic.
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