On RedNote and beyond: Explorers of China-US relations

By Guangming Daily Reporter Cao Yuanlong

A recent post titled “American Netizen Searching for Old Friend” went viral. On January 15, an American girl named Catalina registered on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (“RedNote”), where she posted a video asking for help to reconnect with a Chinese exchange student named Simon, whom she had met in high school. Just 22 hours later, Catalina got reconnected with Simon, catching up with him via a video call.

This marks a new chapter in RedNote’s growing popularity. Since January 13, the platform – primarily focused on content like travel, beauty, and fashion – has seen a massive surge in traffic. Before the Biden administration’s “ban-or-sell” bill on TikTok came into effect on January 19, many American users sought an alternative and flocked to RedNote, pushing the app to the top of the free download charts in North America’s Apple App Store.

When “English speakers” and “Chinese speakers” meet on RedNote, the platform immediately becomes a dynamic space for cross-cultural exchange. American netizens greet their Chinese counterparts with awkward Chinese introductions, often with the help of translation software, and express goodwill by sharing photos of their pets. In turn, Chinese netizens respond enthusiastically with memes, captions in both Chinese and English, and other friendly gestures.

Nevertheless, the app’s users managed to transcend historical, cultural, and societal differences to truly connect with one another. For example, American user “abainsane” greeted with handwritten Chinese: “Bear with me if any mistakes, because I used a translation app for help.” Chinese netizens responded encouragingly: “Don’t worry about translation errors. Most of the time it’s fine, and even if it’s wrong, we’ll still get it. Let me show you my pet!” As one American netizen put it, “We may not speak the same language, but kindness and love are the greatest language of all.”

Many stereotypes and misconceptions melted miserably through these interactions. Chinese and American netizens engage in detailed exchanges about their daily life – comparing rent prices, healthcare costs, and tuition fees at universities in both countries. These exchanges break down the information gap and challenge preconceived notions. “Thousands of Americans downloaded RedNote, and as a result, they interacted with millions of Chinese users in a pleasant way, inadvertently debunking the anti-China rhetoric in the U.S.,” wrote one American netizen on X (formerly Twitter), which garnered numerous likes.

Whether it’s the exchange of memes, creating English corners, sharing each other’s math and English exam papers, or American friends writing back to “Li Hua” (a common pseudonym used in English test papers in China), the cultural interactions unfolding on RedNote bring both sides back to their authentic selves. People from both countries share a deep understanding of life’s joys and sorrows, their genuine desire for openness, cooperation, and mutual learning, as well as a shared pursuit of a better life. This is exactly the force driving the stability of China-US relations, as the relationship is grounded in the people, defined through their actions, told through their stories, and shaped by their collective efforts toward the future.

Beyond RedNote, there is a much broader world. In the current international context, China and the U.S. are deeply integrated in trade, supply chain cooperation, and exchanges in science and education. Both countries are indispensable in addressing global challenges like artificial intelligence and tackling international hot-spot issues. The common interests between China and the U.S. are not diminishing, rather, they’re growing. The desire of both peoples to enhance understanding and exchanges has only grown stronger. Both nations are pursuing their own dreams while working to improve the lives of their people. With common interests and vast opportunities for cooperation, China and the U.S. can be partners and friends for mutual success and prosperity that benefit both countries and the world.

The goodwill expressed on RedNote, by netizens in both the U.S. and China, continues to spread and attracts more global netizens. Some American media outlets have suggested that a new China-US friendship is blossoming on Chinese social media. Take a look at the comments they left on RedNote: “They want the two great powers of the world to be enemies, but we want them to be friends,” and “We are not ‘TikTok refugees,’ but explorers of China-US relations.”

In fact, there is never a shortage of explorers of China-US relations, both on RedNote and beyond. The app’s popularity is driven by the genuine desire and heartfelt wishes of both peoples for friendly exchanges. This spirit demonstrated at the grassroot level is pointing the way forward for China-US relations.