ChinaMaxxing: What's behind the growing interest in Chinese culture?

中国魅力:为何对中华文化的兴趣日益增长?

The Point with Liu Xin

2026-02-06

26 分钟
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单集简介 ...

Are you also living through a "very Chinese" phase of your life? From cooking Chinese food and using Chinese apps to declaring "I'm becoming Chinese," a viral trend is sweeping social media worldwide. At the same time, China is opening its doors wider than ever. In 2025, China welcomed 41 million inbound travelers, following the extension of its visa-free transit policy to 10 days, marking a 27% year-on-year increase. Transit visa arrivals alone surged by 60% compared with pre-policy levels. So what's behind this sudden wave of China enthusiasm? Why is China so cool right now? Is this just an internet fad, or the beginning of a deeper global shift in how China is perceived?
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单集文稿 ...

  • Cutting through an overload of information to get to the heart of the story.

  • This is The Point.

  • A popular online trend has seen people adopt elements of everyday Chinese lifestyles and even declare that they are becoming Chinese.

  • At the same time,

  • China's unilateral visa exemptions have made it easier for those who wish to come to China.

  • In 2025,

  • China welcomed 41 million visitors since extending its visa-free transit program up to 10 days,

  • marking a 27% increase year on year.

  • Travellers using the transit visa the program jumped by 60% compared with pre-policy levels.

  • So why has China suddenly become so cool?

  • How are these trends changing China's perception globally?

  • And is this just a fad or the beginning of a new trend?

  • Welcome to the Point with Miliu Xin, an opinion show coming to you from Beijing.

  • I'm pleased to be joined from the Chinese capital by Asma Dawish,

  • Tunisian host and journalist of China Arab TV.

  • from Zhongshan, Southern China, by Jerry Gray,

  • an Australian social media influencer who has lived in China for 20 years.

  • Also from the Chinese capital by Ekaterina Kali-Gaiva, a Belarusian social media influencer,

  • and here in the studio by Rong Ying,

  • senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies.