Chongqing - How Did China Become Cool? Recently, The Economist published an article titled “How China Became Cool.” Beyond global sensations like DeepSeek, Black Myth: Wukong, TikTok, and Red Note—and the raw, unfiltered excitement of Western livestreamers captivated by China’s rapid modernization—there’s clearly something about China that has captured the world’s imagination. What are the hidden codes behind China’s transformation from being merely seen to being genuinely welcomed? With these questions in mind, we set off on a journey of discovery.