An American social media user has told of the "overwhelming kindness and friendliness" he has experienced on Chinese social media platform RedNote, or Xiaohongshu, saying its interesting content and surprisingly engaging atmosphere has been unlike anything else seen on the internet.
Due to concerns over a looming ban on the popular TikTok short video platform in the U.S., many American social media users who described themselves as "TikTok refugees" have flocked over to the Chinese platform RedNote recently.
The surprising influx of new users has seen Chinese and American people connecting, breaking down barriers, and promoting intercultural communication, with the RedNote app becoming an unexpected platform for such people-to-people exchanges.
In an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Tuesday, Jaybill McCarthy, a U.S.-based content creator who also made the move to RedNote, shared aspects of Chinese culture he has enjoyed learning about and discovering via the app.
"One [is the] spectacular food. The food looks absolutely amazing. Chinese people have posted a lot of recipes, and lately they've been asking Americans to sort of try these recipes. So I decided to give it a go, and I made a couple of videos of me cooking Chinese recipes that I saw. So far I did 'hong shao rou' (braised pork), 'ji dan geng' (steamed egg custard). It was really funny with the pork, people were like, there's no way that a foreigner is making that, like no-one could believe that I did it," he said.
McCarthy also noted his fascination with China's Spring Festival, the country's most important annual holiday which celebrates the Chinese New Year. With the Year of the Snake beginning on Wednesday, McCarthy said he has been struck by the various cultural aspects, including how the Chinese people express their blessings in such an elegant manner.
"[The Chinese phrase] 'May all your wishes come true.' I just think that's such a fantastic way to wish someone and to start a new year with just like: 'May all your wishes come true.' And the other one was something to the effect of: 'May you get all the money.' I love that idea of how, instead of just saying 'Happy New Year,' there's specific intent about it, and I just thought that was so beautiful and so poetic," he said.
Moreover, McCarthy says he has been impressed and touched by the friendly and positive atmosphere he has encountered on RedNote, especially the way users connect and interact with him, which he says stands in sharp contrast to the often volatile and divisive experience elsewhere online.
"Just the overwhelming kindness and friendliness that I've experienced (on RedNote), it doesn't feel like the internet. It's been really amazing and really humbling to see how kind people have been. (On) American social media, it's really hard to get anybody to engage with you and to make comments on your posts and to like your things and what have you. And that just started happening immediately [on RedNote], immediately people were interested. Everybody was really trying to find out as much as they can and be curious. And I think that was really unusual. I've not seen that before," he said.
US social media user surprised by kind, engaging atmosphere on RedNote
Some Russian people say they have been fascinated with the rich cultural tapestry and meticulous craftsmanship of Chinese films after seeing trailers for Chinese blockbusters including animated film "Ne Zha 2", saying that they are eager to experience all this firsthand and personally visit this neighboring country.
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has grossed over 14.16 billion yuan (1.94 billion U.S. dollars) in box office revenue as of Saturday, surpassing "Spider-Man: No Way Home", and securing its position among the top seven films of all time globally.
The sequel to the series about a rebellious boy-god from Chinese mythology has not only become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide, but has also set a new record for box office earnings in a single film market.
Following its official screening in many countries and regions around the world, including North America and Australia, the critically acclaimed film is expected to be released in Russia soon, according to Russian media.
Recently, on the streets of Moscow, China Media Group (CMG) reporters showed local people the trailers for "Ne Zha 2" and other Chinese-produced films that hit the screen during the Spring Festival movie season last month.
In separate interviews with China Central Television, some Russian people say they were captivated by the latest Chinese filmmaking techniques, expressing immense interest in the animation and sharing how it ignited their passion for Chinese culture.
"The pictures of the animation are really great and beautiful. I will definitely watch it. I am very interested in it and want to know what will eventually happen to this protagonist," said Maria, a local. "After watching this trailer, of course, we want to experience the traditional Chinese culture personally," said Marina, another local resident.
Another interviewee, Yulia, said that the characters in Chinese movies and other literary works have always impressed her. She attributed this to the depth and richness of Chinese culture.
"I think Chinese films, TV series and animations have played a huge role in spreading Chinese culture and language, and have made us more and more eager to visit this country for ourselves," she said.
Nikita, a second-year acting student, said he is a little tired of typical Hollywood blockbusters compared to these Chinese-made films that are steeped in the country's history and traditional culture. Although he had never seen a Chinese film before, he knew a lot about Chinese culture.
"I really like the aesthetic of Chinese mysticism, with its element of demons and monsters. I love China so much. I would absolutely love to participate in Chinese movies if I have the chance," he said.
Among the citizens interviewed was Wanda, a Chinese language learner, who said she was planning a trip to China.
"I am eager to step onto the streets of China and personally communicate with the people of this country in their language. My Chinese isn't very good yet, but I am working hard on it," said Wanda.
The robust rise of Chinese movies has also caught the eye of Russian filmmakers. Dmitry Mednikov, managing director of Russian Media Group, was one of the first people in the country to know about these newly released Chinese productions. He said that Chinese films are 'heterogeneous,' a combination of Chinese culture and Chinese filmmaking technologies that partly explains why they appeal to different markets and audiences.
"These works are a combination of finely designed stories and excellent filming techniques. With Russia's growing interest in Chinese films, this trend will inevitably continue in the future," he said.
Chinese films spark Russians' keen interest in traditional culture of China
