Tourists from France wait on Friday at Kunming South Railway Station to board the China-Laos high-speed train for a trip to Xishuangbanna in Southwest China"s Yunnan province. Yunnan has become a popular destination for travelers from home and abroad looking to escape the heat and enjoy a summer break. YANG ZIXUAN/XINHUA

　　A wave of social media trends is reshaping how China is being viewed by younger audiences around the world, as foreign tourists bypass traditional news outlets to share unfiltered experiences of daily life across the country.

　　Under hashtags such as #China-Travel, #ChinaShopping, #ChinaCool and #Chinamaxxing, young creators on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are documenting immersive visits to Chinese cities. The trends reflect a broader shift toward firsthand cultural exploration among travelers from Generation Z, which was born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s.

　　The term "Chinamaxxing" blends "China" with the Gen Z internet slang "maxxing", a word meaning to fully embrace and optimize a lifestyle around a certain culture. It gained traction globally after online creators shared clips featuring everyday Chinese lifestyles: drinking warm water, practicing baduanjin, a traditional Chinese aerobic exercise, wearing traditional Chinese style outfits and watching Chinese short dramas.

　　"ChinaTravel" documents immersive city trips beyond iconic landmarks. "ChinaShopping" highlights booming purchases of guochao (China chic) electronics, beauty goods and daily consumer products. "China-Cool" carries dual meanings — both refreshing summer getaways in China"s mountainous regions and admiration for its sleek digital infrastructure, convenient public transport and vibrant urban culture.