Deng Ning, a professor and vice-dean at the School of Tourism Sciences at Beijing International Studies University, said that there is a fundamental difference between today"s inbound tourism and that in earlier eras.

　　Decades ago, foreign tourists visited China with the preset stereotypes of an "ancient Eastern nation" and merely visited symbolic landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Palace Museum, Deng said, adding that today"s "Chinamaxxing" phenomenon represents a filter-free revolution powered by social media algorithms.

　　"Foreign visitors no longer chase the scenic spots we assume they want to see; they dive into tangible and modern local life — wandering through wet markets, buying bubble tea via mobile QR codes and watching square dances in community parks," Deng added.

　　"China has transformed from an object to be interpreted by outsiders into a subject experienced, discussed and redefined through real personal encounters," he said.

　　When foreign tourists develop a favorable impression of China from simple experiences such as scanning QR codes to pay, sipping bubble tea, or receiving small acts of kindness on the subway, this kind of "grassroots soft power" carries far more persuasive power than any official promotional video, he added.

　　Authentic experiences

　　Chen Hong, director of the Institute of Area Studies at East China Normal University"s School of Foreign Languages, said that Western mainstream media and political elites monopolized narratives about China for a long time, reducing the country to one-dimensional labels such as "security threat" or "geopolitical rivalry".