On a bustling February afternoon in Mexico City, Liu Yixuan, a 29-year-old engineer, found herself standing in line for almost an hour at a Chinese tea shop.

The Mixue Group — the largest new-style tea chain in China — had just opened its first branch in the city's downtown area, offering its classic ice-cream cone for 8 pesos ($0.45) — one of the lowest-priced sweet treats in the capital.

Earlier, Liu had joined in the vibrant Chinese Cultural Year celebrations at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the city's culture center, where the air was alive with the rhythmic beats of lion and dragon dances. On display were the colorful sights of Peking Opera masks' intricate artistry and demonstrations of the tradition of writing fu (good luck) characters for Spring Festival.

A week earlier, Mexico City, about 12,500 kilometers from Beijing, hosted a large parade to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse.

"In recent years, Chinese culture has become increasingly tangible here, weaving into the fabric of daily life — with delicious food, entertainment and full of experiences," said Liu.

She has worked in the city for three years and seen a growing interest in Chinese culture. Her Mexican colleagues, for instance, asked her about Chinese New Year traditions and learned about the custom of giving red envelopes. They subsequently gave red envelopes to their family members and said they found the custom very interesting.

The Chinese influence extends beyond festivals. In suburban supermarkets, Liu has spotted backpacks adorned with Labubu dolls and claw machines brimming with the popular plush toys.

In Mexico City she can even find some distinct flavors from home, such as malatang, a spicy hot pot from Sichuan province, and Lanzhou beef noodles from Gansu province. Many Mexicans frequently enjoy these Chinese delicacies, she said.