Capybara Craze: Meet the Chinese Internet’s Favorite Rodent

In China, capybaras have become the spirit animal of many young people.


Celebrated for their calm, chilled-out appearance, capybaras have captured the hearts of millions of young netizens. On social media platform Xiaohongshu, the hashtag #卡皮巴拉 (kapibala), which transliterates the South American rodents’ English name into Chinese, has amassed over 196.6 million views and spurred the creation of 43.3 thousand posts.


Depending on your personal preference, capybaras may be considered cute. But much of the fascination with them stems more their character traits. Despite being the world’s largest rodents, these herbivores are non-threatening to other animals and sustain themselves on various plants. Instead, as social creatures, capybaras are known for their ability to establish friendly relationships with animals of other species. These properties are hence highly admired by members of younger generations, who view capybaras as symbols of calmness and emotional stability.


For young people, the capybara represents a relaxed state of life and an unbreakable self-stability.


One Xiaohongshu user shared, “For me capybaras represent a certain attitude towards life. They have a sense of relaxation that is almost indifferently laid-back, as if they are untroubled by the concerns of life and death.” This post has received over 19.7 thousand likes.


Other popular videos on Xiaohongshu showcase capybaras remaining calm under various kinds of external pressure. For example they endure heavy rainstorms or fail to react having objects like rocks and oranges placed on their heads.


One such video depicts a capybara serenely walking through a torrential downpour. The poster commented, “I really need the capybara’s mindset. It moved so peacefully through the rain and wind as if they didn’t bother it at all.”


The viral popularity of capybaras has given rise to the emergence of Túnmén (豚门), an online community for capybara-lovers.


Capybara meme Xiaohongshu

A capybara meme from Xiaohongshu. Translation: “What a beautiful day (I’m going to bite all of you”).


Following the trend of zodiac signs and MBTI (Myers–Briggs Type Indicator) personalities, ‘men’ have become a new way for young people to identify which each other online. Though the character literally means gate, here its use is inspired by the religious term ‘Amen.’ Netizens have adopted this word to express enthusiasm for various interests, with Màimén (McDonald’s fans) being a notable example.


The rise of the capybara to stardom can largely be attributed to the song “Capybara,” released by a Russian blogger in early 2023. This song went viral on TikTok in the spring, where many creators paired it with capybara videos.


The song and the exploding popularity of capybaras made the leap to Chinese domestic platforms in March. A Chinese blogger studying abroad, 4566, brought the trend from TikTok to Douyin, noting the song’s soothing effect. Subsequently, capybara videos on Douyin, tagged with #AmazingAnimalsOnDouyin, began to gain traction, with the term kapibala also becoming a nickname for the animal among netizens.


Banner image via Fandom.

Hot Pot Chain in Hot Water over Viral Dance

The popular Sichuan-style hotpot chain Haidilao has recently faced a backlash over a trendy dance performed by its employees, which some online users have complained is “too disruptive” and “too noisy.”


Known for its customer service-led approach, Haidilao restaurants sometimes offer free manicures, hair washing, and performances like the famous “noodle dance,” in which employees make fresh noodles. Recently, the chain has started offering new dances like the “Kemusan” or “subject three,” a reference to the third section of China’s driving test. Thought to be inspired by a wedding dance from Guangxi in southern China, the Kemusan dance, which involves intimate interaction with customers and significant hip and waist movements, has been criticized by some as vulgar.


On November 28, a group celebrating a birthday at a Haidilao restaurant in Jiangxi province requested a dance from the waitstaff, which led to a disturbance with another group of diners who found the performance too loud and disruptive, resulting in an altercation with the restaurant employees and police involvement.



A representative from Haidilao told the South China Morning Post that while employees are encouraged to provide personalized service, they should not make customers uncomfortable.


The recent controversy has sparked varied reactions among Chinese netizens. One Weibo user downplayed the incident, saying, “It’s just a dance and a handshake from the staff, nothing extreme. The Qing dynasty is long over; it’s time to move on.”


Others view this as a step forward in gender equality, with one comment noting, “Now women can enjoy their meal while men dance. Why do some dancers seem shy despite performing so often? Because they’re surrounded by unfamiliar people.”


However, concerns have been raised about the impact on employees.


“Haidilao has turned good service into blatant harassment, crossing other customers’ boundaries,” ​​a netizen criticized the chain, saying, “This isn’t just about customers; it’s unfair to employees too. They aren’t models or actors; they’re tired employees. It’s easy to film a viral video, but daily repetition is exhausting.”


According to Haidilao employees, dancing Kemusan is initiated by individual outlets and is unrewarded activity. While viral fame is a possibility, this has become a burden.


One employee said to ifeng.com, “We would join in if there were rewards, but there aren’t, and we’re tired. The stores compete, but we don’t have much time to learn.”


Haidilao employees are required to work up to fourteen hours a day, six days a week, with only four days off per month. Sometimes they may only get 10-20 minutes of rest per shift.


In response to the controversy, some Haidilao locations have discontinued the Kemusan dance performance service.


Cover image via Weibo.

How McDonald’s Fans in China Have Created a New Online Subculture

In 2023, if you love McDonald’s and are a regular at this fast food chain, congratulations, you are officially part of China’s hottest internet clique, “Màimén” (麦门).


In China’s digital world, mén 门 is the character used to describe like-minded people. Coined at the end of 2022, the term “Màimén” first gained popularity on the lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu as a shorthand for McDonald’s enthusiasts. Since 2017, McDonald’s has doubled its restaurant count in China to 5,500, making the country its second-largest market. Màimén has grown into an enormous online community where the enthusiasts call themselves “麦门信徒” (the believers of Màimén) with the slogan “麦门永存” (Màimén forever).


Maimen meme

A Màimén meme, via Xiaohongshu.


On Xiaohongshu, the hashtag #Màimén has amassed over 416 million views. Posts related to Màimén have gone viral. One Xiaohongshu user shared her experience with a McDonald’s delivery order in one post, which received over 45,000 likes. She left a note in her order, “I’m a pious Màimén believer. Can I have some crispy fries to try out, please? Màimén, my forever god.” To her surprise, the staff responded to her request with a handwritten note on the receipt, “Of course, my believer. Màimén forever!” and gifted her a free pineapple pie and spicy chicken wings along with the crispy fries.


According to the discussion online, Màimén, or “Màimén forever,” is the code to identify group members. The interaction mentioned above has been emulated as a group activity within the Màimén community, establishing a popular trend on social media. In a similar fashion, when requesting some extra fries or chicken nuggets, enthusiasts add notes in their delivery orders with the last sentence “Màimén forever.” Some staff gift customers a box of free fries or extra chicken nuggets and reply to their requests in handwriting, “My pleasure, Màimén believer.”


Maimen code

Màimén show off their receipts emblazoned with the “Màimén code.” Image via Xiaohongshu.


Under the Màimén umbrella, subcategories like “麦门文学” (Màimén Literature), “麦门穿搭” (Màimén Fashion), and “麦门拍照” (Màimén Photo Shoots) have generated a cult-like following.


Memes that center on “Màimén Literature” have taken the internet by storm. Màimén Literature refers to a unique style of writing that combines exaggeration, an irrational tone, and illogical sentences to describe a passion for McDonald’s, each paragraph ending with the concluding word “Màimén.” It mimics the religious practice of saying “Amen” to show the worship of McDonald’s. For example: “I believe a person can’t be bad if he or she loves McDonald’s. If someone acts pretentious and snobbish when they hear McDonald’s is delicious, they are probably the one who adds sesame sauce to your burger behind your back! Màimén!”


The synergy between McDonald’s and fashion has been seen in numerous collaborations such as the McDonald’s Crocs, and the golden arches are fashion designers’ new favorite motif. Beyond the fancy collaborations, Màimén fashion has effortlessly infiltrated into Chinese youth’s daily lives from the ground level. T-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with “Sorry KFC I Only Eat McDonald’s” are selling fast, while local designers have added the M symbol to their designs.


Maimen fashion

The freshest Màimén swag, available via Taobao.


The Màimén storm has also put McDonald’s restaurants in the spotlight, transforming them into some of China’s hottest Instagrammable photo booths. Turning paper bags into hats, using the toys from kids’ meals as accessories, and dressing up to match McDonald’s colors, Chinese youth adopt this ritual as yet another way to pay tribute to Màimén.


McDonald's Photo Shoot

Examples of Màimén Photo Shoots online. Image via Xiaohongshu.


The Màimén fandom has driven the McDonald’s frenzy across the country and brought the brand further commercial success. The restaurant chain has set its eyes on the Chinese market, aiming to reach 10,000 restaurants by 2028. In March 2023, McDonald’s validated the Màimén community in the article “Màimén Màimén, What’s Màimén?” published on its official website. The article explains the term Màimén through memes in the form of Màimén literature. On Xiaohongshu, the verified McDonald’s account has hopped on the trend, interacting with fans and posting its own “Màimén Literature.”


Creating McDonald’s memes is at the core of Màimén fandom. In fact, memes based on Màimén literature have received a great deal of attention on social media. According to a media communication study, memes are a powerful brand marketing strategy since they are a low-cost means of quickly responding to hot news stories, establishing online brand communities, connecting with fan bases, and enhancing brand impressions. Nowadays, social media is a dominant platform for individuals to express themselves, create self-identities, and form subcultures. On Xiaohongshu, where people share memes and participate in the Màimén interactions, Màimén can serve as their new online persona.


Call it ironic or entertaining, the devout praise of Màimén has become a way for Chinese youth to have fun and grasp something tangible in the digital world. While it might seem strange that a subculture is rooted in love for one of the world’s most ubiquitous brands, here McDonald’s provides a shared reference point and canvas for absurdist self-expression. Having McDonald’s in 2023 is not a mundane day-to-day fast food choice but a trendy gesture. The Màimén believers love it because they feel seen and included in this digital community. In this sense, their love of McDonald’s is well justified.


“I never thought it would be a cool thing if I eat McDonald’s regularly,” said Shuni Wang, a 27-year-old accountant in Inner Mongolia. “I love McDonald’s because I don’t know what else to eat. After hearing about ‘Màimén,’ I feel trendy and like I belong whenever I eat it.”


Banner image by Haedi Yue.

Beijing Court Rules AI-Generated Image Qualifies for Copyright Protection

The Beijing Internet Court recently handed down a decision that grants copyright protection to an image created with generative artificial intelligence — the first of its kind in China.


The plaintiff surnamed Li filed the lawsuit in May against the defendant surnamed Liu alleging copyright infringement and violation of information network transmission rights. Li, who created a series of pictures utilizing Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion and posted on Chinese Instagram-like social media platform Xiaohongshu, accused Liu, a blogger, of using his AI-generated artwork without permission in a post as well as removing the watermark on the original picture.


The image in question

The image in question, via Xiaohongshu.


Recognizing the “originality” of the plaintiff’s AI-created picture and his “intellectual input” in the creative process, the court found the image in question was subject to copyright. The defendant Liu was ordered to issue a public apology and pay the plaintiff 500 RMB (around 70.5 USD) in economic damages.


The court ruled the plaintiff was the copyright owner, giving his role in “configuring the AI server and making the final selection of the image.” The picture, although generated by AI, was deemed to be based on his intellectual input and convey personalized expression.


AI systems — not considered legal entities and lacking free will — are essentially “tools” for creation, while human inputs remain at the core, the court noted. It also denied copyright ownership to the AI model designers who were “not involved in the process of producing the particular image.”


“AI-generated images should be recognized as works protected under copyright law, as long as they reflect people’s original intellectual investment,” the court said.


The process of generating the image using Stable Diffusion

The process of generating the image using Stable Diffusion. Image via Beijing Internet Court / WeChat.


The court’s finding stands in contrast to a previous decision made by the U.S. Copyright Office in February. The office said images created by the AI platform Midjourney were not eligible for copyright protection because they were “not the product of human authorship.”


In the backdrop of the burgeoning AI industry and the skyrocketing demand for AI usage in various fields, the lawsuit received wide attention and heightened controversy over the copyrightability of AI art. The court hearing was livestreamed and attracted more than 170,000 viewers.


“China is adopting a pro-growth, business-friendly stance in its AI regulation,” said Angela Zhang, associate professor of law and director of the Center for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong.

“While China was an early mover in regulating generative AI, it is also highly supportive of the technology and the companies developing it,” Zhang wrote for Project Syndicate in October.


Li Zhenwu, a Shanghai-based lawyer, commented on the Twitter-like platform Weibo that the court had already explained its reasoning very carefully, devoting a large portion of the judgment to proving the plaintiff’s contributions in the process of creating.


“An individual case doesn’t hold the significance of identifying certain trends,” Li said. “The case is different from instances where AI generates works directly.”


Cover image via TheKonG / Shutterstock.

The Viral ‘Baby Bowl’ Trend Rejects Adulthood

The ‘baby bowl’ phenomenon is going viral in China, but it’s not directly related to parents and young children. The Mandarin 宝宝碗 (bǎobǎowǎn) translates to English as ‘baby bowl.’ Recently the term has been used not just to refer to bowls for babies and toddlers. Instead it points to when a couple eating at a restaurant orders only one entrée and the guy puts a small portion into a smaller bowl for their significant other. This bowl is more than just a small portion: it’s supposed to serve as proof that the girl is pampered and cared for by her boyfriend. Furthermore, it boasts that the girl is petite, delicate, and has a small appetite


There’s no problem with wanting to try a bite or two of your partner’s food, or eating less if you’re not hungry. But what may have started off as a relatively harmless way for couples to show affection has evolved into a potentially damaging trend, one which pushes a heteronormative view of relationships and unrealistic body norms. Some netizens are arguing that the trend is evil, “because it deliberately weakens and infantilizes women.”


This relationship dynamic has gone so far that some girls have begun calling themselves 老公宝女 (lǎogōng bǎonǚ) which translates to husband’s baby daughter. That is to say, the girl views their significant other as a father figure who completely takes care of her.


Baby Bowl Trend

Caring or controlling? A boyfriend prepares a ‘baby bowl.’ Still image via Douyin.


At the same time, some female netizens have mocked this trend by posting videos of themselves eating from a big bowl while their boyfriend eats from a smaller bowl. In refutation of the baby bowl, others have created what they call a ‘grandma bowl,’ since ‘baby bowls’ don’t hold enough food to keep them full.


Putting aside gender issues for a moment, the trend clearly indicates a desire to regress back to childhood, escaping from the responsibilities of adult life.


This is a current that has been present in Chinese youth culture over the past few years. Other examples include ‘dopamine dressing,’ which reached China this year. It originated amongst university students looking to elevate their mood and quickly gained traction on Weibo and Xiaohongshu.


The story of viral frog costumes from earlier this year is also illustrative — not only did the creator of the costume design it out of frustration with her difficulties finding a job, but the frogs have also given people a chance to embrace costumed gig work as an alternative to stifling ‘996’ work culture. For some, the ‘baby bowl’ also seems to offer an escape, albeit one that leads back to childhood and traditional gender norms.


Banner image by Haedi Yue.



DJ and Producer Yu Su Brings a Food Pop-up to Shanghai

If you follow any touring musicians on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that one of their favorite things — besides playing music — is eating and drinking in a new town. Kaifeng-born, Vancouver-based DJ and producer Yu Su takes this gastronomic obsession further than most, having cooked pop-up dinners in London, Vancouver, Tokyo — and now Shanghai.


Yu Su has been touring almost non-stop since releasing her debut album Yellow River Blue in 2021. Like her DJ sets, it’s full of buoyant dance music that can rapidly shift into more ambient and psychedelic forms. But she has also run a food Instagram, yusucooks, since 2019. That was around the time she joked online that she was quitting music to open a restaurant in Paris — and the fact that people actually fell for the prank got her thinking about sharing her cooking more widely.


“It’s so similar to DJing a party, but different. It’s almost like I like it better,” she laughs. “It’s so personal, so direct. It feels more humble… In the whole DJ industry, you’re really mentally removed from the environment and actual people,” she explains, noting that working with chefs can provide a chance to collaborate and learn.


RADII caught up with Yu Su as she tested recipes for a dinner happening on December 7 at Bastard, a Shanghai restaurant from chef Michael Janczewski and Jiro H that has garnered acclaim for its inventive, ‘bastardized,’ re-interpretations of Chinese cuisine as well as its hip, casual atmosphere and the special care that goes into its playlists — not always a given at restaurants in China. Considering that Yu Su first connected with Bastard’s Dongwei Su at her shows during previous tours to China, it’s clear that the restaurant’s team shares her passion for music.


Yu Su Bastard Recipe Testing

Bastard’s Jiro and Michael taste-testing with Yu Su (left to right).


Discussing how chefs in cities like Tokyo are often “obsessed with music,” Yu Su comments that in Shanghai, you can have a “good restaurant, good wine bar, but immediately, it feels like there’s not much thought put into the music.”


Guests at her events can therefore expect a more considered approach, pairing dishes with music and her own field recordings reflecting the regions that inspired them. Music from the Middle East and South Asia might accompany a Silk Road-inflected lamb dumpling, while another dumpling filled with pumpkin and salted egg yolk will go with sounds from Southern China.


Scroll down for a look at Yu Su and Bastard’s team fine-tuning the aforementioned pumpkin dumpling and a dessert featuring poached pear, goji berries, and sake ice cream.


Photos by Wu Zhiyao. Follow Yu Su and Bastard on Instagram for more info.


Pumpkin dumpling

A mixture of pumpkin and polenta forms the base for the dumplings’ filling.


Salted egg yolk wok


Pumpkin dumplings

The chefs experimented with two approaches for the pumpkin dumplings: a quick stir-fry in salted egg yolk, and a more ravioli-esque finish of sage and brown butter.


Plating dessert

Yu Su plates up dessert.


Dongwei Su behind the bar

Dongwei prepares one of the event’s drinks, a gin and pear-based cocktail.


Gin pear cocktail


Yu Su and Michael discuss ingredient orders.


Yu Su eating dessert