This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
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I’m in a very Chinese time in my life. No, you didn’t misread that.
A new trend has emerged on TikTok where Chinese-American girls are sharing the Eastern lifestyle with the rest of us. The videos have taken off, garnering millions of views from non-Chinese users looking to improve their health with the help of generations-old wellness routines.
It’s not cultural appropriation; it’s cultural appreciation.
“Tomorrow, you’re turning Chinese,” Chinese-American TikToker Sherry, one of the viral creators behind the craze, told her followers in a recent video. “I know it sounds intimidating, but there’s no point fighting it now. You are the chosen one.”
The viral fad has taken off as more and more young women are looking for ways to make America healthy again and turn to natural and homeopathic remedies. It has even converted the macho men of Barstool Sports, who are now starting their days with an “ancient Chinese” workout featuring “lymphatic hops” in the hopes of getting shredded.
Day 2 of the Chinese work out. We’re both insanely sore but we’re here and about to dominate the day pic.twitter.com/tBtv1aG7wG
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 18, 2026
KB may be too brolic for the Ancient Chinese Workout™️… https://t.co/r4kcmNyATm pic.twitter.com/4TCg5aJSLD
— The Yak (@BarstoolYak) February 23, 2026
I tried some of the ancient practices for a week to see if the routine would change my physical and emotional health.
Each day, I started my morning with warm tea before I ate anything. I then went on a short walk to promote digestion after eating my breakfast, which was usually eggs and toast. The key is to keep your digestive system warm and not shock it first thing in the morning with cold food or ice water.
A study released last year by San Diego State University found that individuals who consumed cold drinks had “increased anxiety, more sleep disturbances, and greater feelings of abdominal fullness.” On the other hand, those “who drank more hot beverages … reported lower levels of depression, improved sleep quality, and fewer digestive symptoms.”
“Researchers found food and beverage temperature, long recognized in traditional Asian medicine, has measurable links to anxiety, insomnia and gut discomfort,” the university said in a release at the time.
I wore slippers and never went barefoot, which Sherry explains is meant to prevent illness. Some of the Chinese creators also say it promotes kidney health and fertility by keeping the womb and abdomen warm.
“You’re letting cold enter your body and thus you’re weakening your body,” Sherry said in one video. “But if you’re wearing house slippers, you’re more likely to maintain that warmth and you’re less likely to get sick.”
Some of the girls behind the trend suggested drinking broth first thing in the morning. The broth wasn’t for me and felt too heavy to start my day. Instead, I opted for peppermint tea.
If I drank or ate anything cold, I would balance it out with a hot tea to keep my digestive system warm, as directed by the Chinese baddies. I also had a warm apple drink, which I made by boiling apples, ginger, honey, and goji berries, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine to support the kidney and liver detoxification systems. It was really delicious, but didn’t change my life in a week.
@jenniethereporterChinese baddie tea!♬ Relaxed and chill lofi hip hop long version(1580488) – Koko ni studio
The routine has also helped me prioritize self-care. I’ve found myself journaling, praying, reading, and adopting tasks that promote mindfulness.
One of the biggest differences I noticed was that a few days into walking after meals, I craved movement. I am usually a low-impact workout kind of girl and like doing pilates and yoga a couple times a week. But as I adopted more of the “Chinese baddie” lifestyle of increasing my movement throughout the day, I started going ham in the gym. For days, I’ve been lifting and even running on the treadmill. The endorphins were addicting, and so were the points on my Oura ring. I found I was walking for longer periods and exceeding 10,000 steps per day.
@mollymyattporter Woke up a Chinese baddie #chinesebaddie ♬ original sound – alex
Another mood boost came from spending more time outside. As a result, I found myself interacting with the outside world more, rather than spending most of my day mindlessly scrolling on my phone. In many of the viral TikTok videos, Chinese-American girls said they intentionally make time to phone a friend or have social time in the morning to promote longevity. When I was out with the dog in the park during my walks, I ran into neighbors whom I’d never before interacted with and quickly fostered new friendships with them.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in 2023 declared an “epidemic” of “loneliness and isolation” in America.
Loneliness affects somewhere between “one third to well over half of people in industrialized societies,” says Steven Crane, a research scholar at Stanford University.
“While healthy networks of social connection provide powerful protective health effects, increasing odds of long-term survival by 50%, loneliness itself is associated with many distinct detrimental health impacts on sleep, physical health, and mental health,” Crane says.
Overall, I see no harm in implementing the “Chinese baddie” routine in your day, even if it’s just one of your habits. After this week of wellness, I plan to continue walking in the morning after breakfast and keeping my slippers on at home. But I probably will ditch drinking warm water as soon as the Texas heat takes hold.
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The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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