Rednote Trend on July 24, 2025
Alice: Hey Bob, I was just thinking about this and figured you'd be the person to ask. What are some of the latest trends you've been seeing on Xiaohongshu recently? I feel like I'm a little out of the loop.
Bob: Haha, no worries at all! It's impossible to keep up sometimes, the algorithm changes its mind every other day.
Totally, so beyond the Citywalk and Dopamine Dressing stuff, another huge one I've seen is "Reverse Travel" (反向旅游). It's kind of an extension of the Citywalk vibe. Instead of everyone cramming into the most famous tourist cities, people are deliberately choosing less popular, "colder" destinations to avoid the crowds. You'll see these super aesthetic posts from places you might not have even heard of, all about having a more relaxed and authentic experience without the lines and chaos.
And on the food side of things, the "Meal Prep" trend has gotten a serious upgrade. It’s not just about cooking for the week anymore. It's about making these incredibly beautiful and balanced bento-style lunch boxes. People share their weekly menus, calorie counts, and tips for keeping food fresh. It's part productivity hack, part food art.
Have you seen any of those meal prep posts? Some of them look like they belong in a museum
Alice: Oh wow, Reverse Travel! That makes so much sense. I can totally get behind that. The idea of intentionally avoiding the tourist traps for a more genuine, relaxed experience is really appealing. I feel like my feed is always saturated with the same five cities, so seeing something different would be a welcome change.
And you are so right about the meal prep! I have seen those posts. They are intimidatingly beautiful. You're not kidding when you say they belong in a museum. I see them and I have this moment of pure inspiration, followed immediately by the realization that my attempt would look like a sad, beige pile in a Tupperware container.
It's interesting, both of those trends feel like a reaction against chaos, don't they? One is about escaping crowded tourist spots, and the other is about creating order in your daily meals. Do you think that's a bigger theme on the platform right now – people just trying to find a bit of calm and control in their lives?
Bob: You've absolutely hit the nail on the head. That is such a brilliant way to put it. I hadn't consciously connected them like that, but you're totally right. It feels like a collective exhale.
I think it's a huge theme. It's a move away from pure consumerism or "flex culture" towards something more like "lifestyle curation" or a search for intentionality. Another trend that fits perfectly with your theory is the rise of "Healing Scenery" (治愈系风景) posts. It's not just grand landscapes; it's a short video of rain falling on a window, the dappled sunlight through tree leaves on a quiet path, or the steam rising from a cup of tea. It's all about finding and appreciating these small, calming moments.
Even the home decor trends are shifting that way. It's less about luxury brands and more about creating a cozy, personal sanctuary. You see tons of posts about "Wabi-sabi" aesthetics, finding beauty in imperfection, and using natural materials like wood and linen. It's all part of that same search for calm, simplicity, and control in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.
It seems the ultimate flex on Xiaohongshu right now isn't a new designer bag, but a well-organized fridge and a quiet corner to read a book. What do you think? Does that "healing" aesthetic resonate with you?
Alice: A collective exhale! That's the perfect way to describe it. You've totally crystallized what I was sensing but couldn't quite put my finger on.
And yes, that 'healing' aesthetic absolutely resonates with me. More and more, I find myself saving those 'Healing Scenery' posts you mentioned. There's something so grounding about them. It’s not about aspiring to some far-off, expensive vacation; it’s a gentle reminder to find beauty in the present, accessible moments, like the way the light hits your wall in the morning. It feels so much more attainable and genuine.
You're so right about the home decor, too. Creating a space that feels like a personal sanctuary rather than a showroom for the latest expensive 'it' item... it feels like a real and meaningful shift in values.
It almost feels like it's evolving beyond just curating aesthetics, though. It's moving into tangible skills. It's one thing to have a quiet, cozy corner, but now people are showing what they do in that corner. I’ve seen so many posts about pottery, learning to bake intricate pastries, knitting, even urban gardening on a tiny balcony. It seems like the focus is shifting from 'what to buy' to 'what to learn' or 'what to make'. Have you noticed that as well? Like, is the new self-care not just a face mask, but actually mastering the art of making the perfect pour-over coffee?
Bob: Yes, absolutely. You've totally nailed the evolution of it. It's the shift from passive consumption to active creation. Your pour-over coffee example is perfect. It’s not about the caffeine kick; it’s about the ritual, the process, the small moment of mastery.
I've definitely seen this explosion of "what to learn." On Xiaohongshu, they sometimes call it being a "生活家" (shēnghuójiā) - basically, someone who's an 'expert at living' by mastering these small, enriching skills. The urban gardening on balconies is a massive one. People share their journey from seed to sprout to their very first home-grown tomato with such pride.
And you're right, the focus is on the process. The platform has become this incredible hub for "保姆级教程" (bǎomǔ jí jiàochéng), which literally translates to "nanny-level tutorials." They are these hyper-detailed, step-by-step guides that assume you know absolutely nothing. Whether it's how to fix a wobbly chair, how to bake the perfect Basque cheesecake, or how to properly propagate a houseplant, there's a "nanny-level" guide for it.
It feeds right back into our 'calm and control' theory. Learning a tangible skill gives you such a concrete sense of agency and accomplishment, a kind of satisfaction that buying something new just can't match. It's a different, and maybe deeper, form of self-care.
So, I have to ask, has any of this inspired you? Have you been tempted to start a mini herb garden on your windowsill or tackle one of those "nanny-level" baking tutorials yet?
Alice: A 'nanny-level tutorial'! That is the most brilliantly descriptive name I've ever heard. It perfectly captures the vibe – this sense that anyone can do it, no matter their starting point. And '生活家', an 'expert at living'... I love that. It frames these skills not as chores, but as part of a rich, intentional life.
And to answer your question... you've totally called me out. I am so guilty of being inspired. I fell down a rabbit hole of those Basque cheesecake "nanny-level tutorials" a few weeks ago. They made it look so foolproof, so elegantly simple. I thought, 'This is it. This is my entry into becoming a true 生活家.'
Let's just say my result was a little more 'charcoal briquette' than 'beautifully caramelized'. It was a humbling experience, and my post would have been a "what not to do" cautionary tale. So, my baking career is on a temporary hold.
But you've got me thinking again. The windowsill herb garden seems much more my speed—less risk of setting off the smoke alarm, right?
What about you? You seem to have such a great grasp on all of this. Are you secretly a master baker or a propagation pro, or are you, like me, mostly an enthusiastic admirer of everyone else's success?
Bob: Haha! A "charcoal briquette" - that is priceless! Honestly, that's the kind of content that should be on there more often. The 'expectation vs. reality' posts are always the most relatable and hilarious. You should have posted it! You would have gotten tons of comments like "Me too!" and saved countless others from the same fate.
And you've caught me, I am 100% in the 'enthusiastic admirer' camp with you. My grand attempt was latte art. I saw all these beautiful, calming videos of people pouring perfect hearts and ferns into their morning coffee. I thought, "How hard can it be? It's just wiggling your wrist, right?" Well, my creations usually end up looking like a Rorschach test for sad, shapeless blobs. So no, definitely not a secret master of anything over here. My '生活家' status is purely aspirational.
But the windowsill herb garden? That's a fantastic idea. Low stakes, high reward when you can snip some fresh basil for your pasta. You have to do it!
It's funny, this whole trend of intentionality is even bleeding into the 9-to-5 world on Xiaohongshu. I've seen a big rise in what I'd call "Office Aesthetics" or "Productive Relaxation." People share their "PPT-style OOTD" – outfits that are professional but comfortable, often in muted, calming colors. There are also tons of posts about optimizing your commute, creating the perfect work playlist, or desk setup hacks for maximum calm and efficiency. It’s like they're trying to apply those same principles of control and healing to the one part of life that often feels the most chaotic: their job.
Have you seen any of that? The attempt to make even the corporate world a little more... zen?
Alice: Haha, well, it's good to know I'm in good company as an enthusiastic admirer for now! Honestly, this has been such a great chat. It's fascinating to see how all these seemingly separate trends really tie back to that core idea we talked about—that collective search for calm, control, and genuine, tangible skills. You've definitely given me a new lens through which to see my feed. So thank you for that! I think I might actually tackle that windowsill herb garden now. It feels like a much more achievable first step to becoming a '生活家' than my baking disaster.
Bob: You know, this has been a really great chat. It feels like we've uncovered the real meta-trend here. It's not just about what's new, but why it's new. It seems like Xiaohongshu is evolving from a platform of aspiration to one of intention. Whether it's through 'Reverse Travel,' 'nanny-level tutorials,' or just trying to make an office desk feel like a sanctuary, it's all pointing towards a collective desire to find calm, control, and genuine meaning in the small things. Even if it results in a few charcoal cheesecakes or sad lattes along the way, it's a pretty wholesome direction to be heading in. It's been fun dissecting it all with you