Visitors take selfies in front of the large portrait of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate, Beijing, China.

Frame-mogging MaoPhotograph: Getty Images

Apr 23rd 2026|SHANGHAI|3 min read

Rongchang braised goose has been popular in a rural corner of south-west China since the Qing dynasty, but a year ago a Westerner turned it into a national sensation. In clips shared widely on both Chinese and foreign social media, a visiting American influencer is seen taking a large bite of the crispy, caramel-coloured dish. Suddenly Rongchang’s goose restaurants were overwhelmed by local tourists. Economists in the region were shocked by the power of a foreign endorsement.

Signage for Mizuho Bank Ltd., a unit of Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (MHFG), at one of the bank's branches in Tokyo, Japan.

Chinamaxxing is starting to catch on, in China