The second Wuyi Forum, a platform for international academic exchanges, Oxford University synologist and professor emeritus Robert Chard, said the West hopes that China can see what is very cool, very interesting and worth learning.
“Cool” is a term rooted in youth culture and is usually associated with something fashionable, innovative and avant-garde. For decades, the term has been dominated by Western cultural expressions. However, this perception is gradually changing, with global attention increasingly moving eastward.
Consider the case of a foreign social media influencer who has described it as resembling a future nanny van after experiencing a new Chinese energy vehicle.
“We bloom when China releases water,” said an executive at a multinational company. Today, for many foreign investors, China represents a land with certainty and opportunity.
In the video game “Black Myth: Wukong”, the protagonist, who has been translated for a long time as “Monkey King” for an international audience, simply introduces “Wukong.” This subtle yet intentional linguistic choice exemplifies an increased cultural confidence.
What makes China “cool” is not only embracing its modernity, but also the depth of its ancient civilization. This blend of heritage and progress will help expand and redefine our global understanding of cultural dynamism.
The introduction of a visa-free policy has resulted in a significant increase in foreign travel to China. Online engagement reflects this trend. The video tagged as “Learning Chinese” has gained billions of perspectives on platforms such as Tiktok. The desire to understand and experience China has risen significantly. But overcoming years of prejudice and outdated stereotypes continues to hamper more subtle perceptions, and dismantle them requires sustained efforts.
In cross-cultural communication, the concept of “cultural discounts” persists. Take the Chinese animation blockbuster “ne zha 2”, for example. Its central theme – the rebellion of destiny and self-realization – has universal resonance, but culturally specific cultural symbols, such as iconic mythical weapons such as the wind and the wheels of fire and the ing van, may prove elusive to an international audience accustomed to mythology. This underscores the inherent complexity of bridging cultural divisions.
Nevertheless, even entrenched prejudices are insurmountable.
In January, an American father posted a photo of himself and his daughter on the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu. The post received over 10,000 comments and sparked a true friendship with the Shanghai family.
The two families eventually met in person in March and spent a meaningful time together. Their experiences – genuine intercultural exchanges rooted in integrity – provided small but deep illustrations of what global understanding looks like when empathy crosses distance.
Such moments are becoming more prominent. American YouTuber Ishowspeed has recently been streaming his travels in China, attracting millions of viewers this year. His unedited, spontaneous broadcasts provided a varsity view of modern Chinese life, allowing global audiences to witness China’s rapid development and everyday appeal in real time.
Public perception bridges even the division where human connections are most established with sunlight, which dispels prejudice. And it is the authentic experience that creates the most persuasive and vibrant stories.
Today, China is confidently open and embraced by the world. As many of their warm, powerful, and relevant stories resonate across borders, they develop empathy, deepen connections, and write new chapters of cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
His Juan (people’s daily)