A new TikTok trend called "Chinamaxxing" is gaining popularity in the West, especially among Americans. Participants post videos showing themselves practicing Chinese wellness habits like drinking warm apple-boiled water, wearing indoor slippers, and doing longevity exercises. Many use captions such as "you met me at a very Chinese time in my life" and the hashtag #newlychinese. This trend highlights a fresh interest in Chinese culture, once seen as outdated or odd. This trend arrives as China's global image improves amid political tensions and economic shifts. Young Westerners, feeling frustrated with their own countries, seem drawn to aspects of Chinese life. However, the trend mostly celebrates quick memes and glimpses of culture, not the full reality. Chinese youth, like others, face economic challenges, job worries, and social pressures. Some in China feel mixed about the trend. While they dislike being joked about in the past, some appreciate that this time they are part of the humor, not the target. Sherry Zhu, a Chinese-American TikTok star with 740,000 followers, helps spread the craze by sharing wellness tips and saying, "Tomorrow you're turning Chinese," to her fans. The backdrop includes recent hardships like Covid lockdowns and a wave of Sinophobia against Chinese communities. Yet, China's cities are booming with high-speed trains, electric vehicles, and tech advances creating a modern image that captures global attention. Chinese-themed fashion, shows, and makeup trends also grow popular worldwide. At the same time, Chinese social media shows more focus on problems in the US. Memes about the "US kill line," meaning poverty risk, highlight harsh views of American life. Chinese state media supports this, pointing to US inequality and weak social support systems. China's foreign ministry said it is "happy" foreigners are enjoying the "everyday life of ordinary Chinese people." Still, many real issues are hidden by strict internet control, like youth unemployment above 15%, housing troubles, and tough gig work. A best-selling memoir by courier Hu Anyan tells of the intense pressure behind China's fast delivery culture. While the American interest in Chinese culture grows, the full story of Chinese life is deeper and more complex. For now, enjoying apple tea and simple wellness tips is the popular gateway into "being Chinese" online. As one American user said, "We have so much still left to learn being Chinese."