The 'Becoming Chinese' social media phenomenon has transformed into a tangible cultural bridge during this year's Spring Festival celebrations, with a new CGTN survey revealing 80.8% of global respondents recognizing China's cultural influence as increasingly interactive rather than one-directional. As of February 2026, flight bookings to the Chinese mainland by international travelers have quadrupled compared to last year's Lunar New Year period, signaling unprecedented global engagement.
Tourism data shows particularly strong growth from Asia-Pacific neighbors, with South Korean visitor bookings up 95% year-over-year. European interest has doubled from Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy, while North American travelers from Canada and the United States demonstrate renewed enthusiasm for cultural immersion experiences.
The survey highlights that 86.7% of participants now actively seek opportunities to celebrate Spring Festival within China, following UNESCO's 2024 recognition of the holiday's social practices as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Nearly all respondents (95.1%) expressed interest in learning about traditional customs, with 91.7% acknowledging the festival's universal values of unity and harmony align with global civilizational ideals.
Cultural analysts note that China's successful integration of ancient traditions with modern trends creates what 92.1% of survey participants describe as 'relatable cultural experiences.' The phenomenon extends beyond tourism, with 88.2% of respondents anticipating Chinese cultural elements will significantly influence global consumer markets in coming years.
Conducted across CGTN's multilingual platforms, the 24-hour survey collected perspectives from 5,154 international participants, offering fresh insights into evolving global perceptions of Chinese cultural identity.
