"xiexiu" is the latest trend inspiring young Chinese people. It's all about unconventional life hacks to make everyday life easier. The trend has given rise to a number of culinary specialties—including carbonara with ice cream.
China’s youth are sharing wild life hacks under the hashtag xiexiu on social media—a term meaning “heretical” practice, borrowed from YA novels about cunning villains who bend rules for gain, per Die Zeit. Once negative, it’s been reclaimed as a playful antidote to daily stress.
Originally tech-focused, the trend now spills into culinary territory, with some tip videos racking up billions of views.
Traditional Chinese cuisine long commanded reverence, serving as a "gold standard" for social standing—especially for women in a patriarchal framework. Today’s youth simply lack the time (or inclination) to adhere to its rigid rules.
One standout xiexiu hack: melting ice cream into carbonara sauce for extra creaminess and depth. Pasta-ice cream mashups aren’t outliers either—witness *Buldak’s instant carbonara soft serve, complete with chili sauce and crunchy ramen noodle topping.
* a hugely popular brand of extremely spicy instant noodles
