Young travelers are adopting Chinese daily habits—hot water, congee, Baduanjin—as visa-free arrivals hit 22.9M in H1 2026. This trend shifts tourism from sightseeing to local immersion, with tax refunds up 4x and longer stays in single cities.
Tags:What does it mean to become “more Chinese”?
For a growing number of young people overseas, the answer may be surprisingly simple: drink hot water, wear slippers at home, eat congee for breakfast, practice Baduanjin, soak your feet — and, perhaps, take a trip to China.
screenshot from 央视新闻
A new buzzword, “Chinamaxxing,” is going viral across overseas social media, particularly among Gen Z users. Alongside hashtags such as #ChinaTravel and #BecomingChinese, young people are sharing videos of themselves adopting everyday Chinese habits, from wellness routines to food and home life.
What began as an online trend is now spilling into the real world.
For some foreign visitors, China is no longer simply a destination to see. It is becoming a place to experience and even temporarily live like a local. Since China expanded visa-free policies in the first half of 2026, China recorded more than 22.9 million foreign arrivals, with more than 17.8 million entering visa-free, accounting for 77.7 percent of all foreign arrivals.
But the growing number of visitors is only part of the story.
Their travel habits are also changing.
Instead of trying to visit as many cities as possible in a few days, more travelers are choosing to stay longer in one destination. They are moving from sightseeing to experiencing local neighborhoods, food and everyday routines.
screenshot from Hugh Abroad
A small noodle shop in Chengdu offers a vivid example.
The restaurant has only six tables and mainly serves residents living nearby. But as more visa-free travelers from Thailand, Malaysia, Europe and other regions began arriving, the owner suddenly faced a very unusual problem: there were simply too many customers. The owner does not speak foreign languages, so he printed a simple bilingual menu himself.
screenshot from 央视新闻
At lunchtime, all six tables can quickly fill up. He has even had to place small stools outside the shop, while some longtime local customers choose to eat at different times to avoid the crowds. It is a tiny restaurant, but it reflects a much bigger shift. Foreign tourists are moving beyond China's famous landmarks and into its everyday life.
China's new “souvenirs”
Their curiosity is also changing what they buy.
For many international visitors, China's new souvenirs are no longer limited to traditional handicrafts. Drones, VR headsets, smart devices, cultural and creative products, and trendy toys are increasingly finding their way into foreign tourists' shopping bags.
screenshot from Mark Gustuv
China now has more than 15,000 stores participating in the departure tax refund program, while the number of overseas visitors applying for tax refunds surged roughly fourfold year on year in the first half of 2026. And their spending is increasingly integrated into everyday Chinese life.
Restaurants, local services and e-commerce have become some of the most active mobile-payment categories among overseas visitors. For a foreign tourist, that means being able to order food, book local services, shop online and pay digitally in much the same way as a local resident.
Generated by chatgpt
The tourist is no longer simply looking at China.
The tourist is participating in China.
Following stories, not just maps
Another trend is taking foreign visitors to places they may never have considered before:
“Traveling China through film.”
A movie can be more than entertainment.
It can become a country's calling card.
German tour operator Thomas, for example, became interested in Shenzhen after watching Scare Out, which gave him a direct impression of the city as a modern hub of technological innovation. Now, he wants to see the city for himself.
In the United States, middle-school teacher Keith traveled to Sichuan after watching “Ne Zha 2: Rebirth of the Demon Child”. He knew the film's characters were connected to the ancient Sanxingdui civilization, and wanted to see the archaeological site with his own eyes.
His curiosity was simple: he wanted to find out which ancient figures looked most like the characters in the film.
In Singapore, meanwhile, Dear You inspired Singaporean Jenny Lin and her 69-year-old mother to begin a journey to Chaoshan, turning a cinematic story about family and roots into a real-life search for cultural connections.
screenshot from 央视新闻
Three stories, three destinations — but the same trend.
Foreign tourists are no longer simply following China's famous attractions. They are following stories.
Perhaps the most unexpected part of this cultural exchange is happening without a plane ticket. That may be what makes this new wave of interest different.
Foreign visitors are no longer asking only, “What should I see in China?”
Generated by chatgpt
Increasingly, they are asking:
“What does everyday life in China actually feel like?”
The journey is becoming more personal, more immersive and less about simply visiting China than experiencing it.
The Video link：https://youtu.be/YhaiHP-Zdfs?si=7TDDvUlDNo55joLk
https://youtu.be/6yNpI9_9njY?si=5p9rTpsNNbKnzc1J
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