When Adel from Kyrgyzstan arrived at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, she never expected her love for gaming and K-beauty dupes would become a cultural compass. 🌏 The 24-year-old international relations student tells NewspaperAmigo.com how miHoYo’s global hit Genshin Impact became her gateway to understanding Chinese mythology – and why she now spots ‘Guochao’ (national trend) makeup looks popping up in Bishkek night markets.
💬 ‘At first, I just wanted to understand why my Chinese roommates kept yelling ‘Qiqi!’ during gaming nights,’ Adel laughs. ‘Now I’m explaining Liyue Harbor’s architecture to friends back home – it’s basically a digital Silk Road.’ 🏯
Her TikTok feed tells the story: Chinese ‘hanfu’ influencers, C-drama reaction videos, and tutorials for Florasis makeup palettes – all racking up views from Almaty to Istanbul. 📱 ‘We’re not just trading goods anymore,’ she notes. ‘My generation is swapping aesthetics, inside jokes, and midnight snack cravings through these soft power channels.’
With Central Asia-China youth exchanges up 300% since 2022 (per China’s Education Ministry), Adel’s story reflects a bigger shift. As she signs off: ‘Who knew defeating electro slimes together could be the ultimate icebreaker?’ ⚡✨
