The 'Becoming Chinese' Checklist: 10 Experiences Every Visitor Should Try

The #BecomingChinese trend took social media by storm in 2026 — 50 billion views on TikTok, millions of people across the world trying Chinese daily habits. Hot water, slippers, congee for breakfast, evening walks.

But here's the thing: you don't need to wait until you're home to try these. China is the best place to experience the Becoming Chinese lifestyle — and I've put together a checklist of 10 things you should try during your visit.

1. Drink hot water like a local

It sounds simple because it is. But try it: order a cup of hot water (rè kāi shuǐ) with your meal. It's free at any restaurant. See how it feels. Many visitors tell me they end up drinking hot water for the rest of their trip.

2. Buy breakfast from a street cart

In every Chinese city, morning streets are lined with carts selling jianbing (savory crepes), baozi (steamed buns), youtiao (fried dough sticks), and hot soy milk. A proper Chinese breakfast costs ¥5-15 and takes 2 minutes to get. Point at what looks good and hand over some small change.

3. Take a high-speed train

Even if your itinerary doesn't require it, take a high-speed train somewhere. Shanghai to Nanjing (1 hour). Beijing to Tianjin (30 minutes). Chengdu to Xi'an (3 hours). It's not transportation — it's an experience. The speed, the smoothness, the stations. You'll understand why China built the world's largest high-speed rail network.

4. Visit a night market

Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, Guangzhou's Xiajiao, Chengdu's Jinli, Shanghai's Yuyuan — pick one and go hungry. Walk the stalls, point at things that look interesting, eat more than you thought possible. Most snacks cost ¥10-30. You can eat spectacularly well for under ¥100.

5. Take a Didi instead of a taxi

Download the Didi app (it has an English interface) and compare it to hailing a taxi. The price is shown upfront, the driver's rating is visible, and you don't need to explain where you're going. It's cheaper than Uber in most countries.

6. Wash your hands with hot water in a public restroom

This sounds oddly specific, but it matters: almost every public restroom in China provides hot water. It's a small detail that tells you something about how the country thinks about everyday comfort.

7. Try a foot massage

Chinese foot massage is nothing like what you'd get in a Western spa. It's firm, precise, and based on reflexology principles. A 60-90 minute session costs ¥80-150. Your feet will thank you after days of walking.

8. Use a bike-sharing app

Hellobike, Meituan Bike, and Didi Bike are everywhere. Scan the QR code on the bike, unlock it for about ¥1-2, and ride. Chinese cities have extensive bike lanes, and cycling through a hutong in Beijing or along the Bund in Shanghai is genuinely magical.

9. Order food delivery

Open Meituan or Ele.me (or ask your hotel concierge to help), and order literally anything to your hotel room. Bubble tea, hot pot ingredients, fresh fruit, a full dinner — delivered in 30 minutes. The efficiency will ruin delivery services in your home country forever.

10. Take a walk after dinner — without a destination

This is the most Chinese thing you can do. After dinner, Chinese people go for a walk (sàn bù). Not to get somewhere. Not for exercise. Just to walk, to digest, to be outside. In parks, along rivers, through neighborhood streets.

Try it once during your trip. Leave your phone in your pocket. Walk without a destination. You might understand why a billion people do this every evening.

The Becoming Chinese trend has introduced millions of people to Chinese daily life. But these aren't internet trends — they're real habits that real people practice every day. And when you visit, you get to try them firsthand.

Which one will you try first?