Several internet stars, including streamer IShowSpeed and political commentator Hasan Piker, have toured China last year|@ishowspeedsui; hasandpiker|X; Instagram
A new phenomenon dubbed “Chinamaxxing” is taking over social media, as non-Chinese content creators in the US, UK, and Canada post videos about life in China.
China, often viewed as a restrictive Communist culture, is kindling curiosity among Western influencers. Several internet stars have either toured the country or started posting on Chinese apps since major apps like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Gmail, X, or TikTok don’t work there.
Influencer MrBeast pioneered this shift by joining the Bilibili video platform in early 2024. But the true cultural explosion occurred when streamer IShowSpeed toured the country. He was mobbed by fans across cities like Shanghai and Chongqing.
Other major influencers, like gamer Pokimane and political commentator Hasan Piker, also visited China in 2025 and posted about it.
The influencer trend has even formed memes that say “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.” Most people are viewing Chinese lifestyle choices as aspirational markers of health and style.
Some US creators have spoken about facing strict censorship and difficult monetization on Chinese social media.