<p>This study examines the strategies employed by these returnees as they negotiate the localization and reproduction of their cross-cultural knowledge within the Chinese academic sphere, by drawing upon the experiences of 24 scholars who have returned to a university in southern China. Findings reveal that these individuals encounter symbolic violence, where their internationally acquired cultural capital is devalued by the domestic academic field. Such challenges prompt a recalibration of their academic identities and the adoption of a “dual capital strategy” involving a delicate balancing act: simultaneously accumulating capital recognized within the local Chinese academic field (e.g., Chinese-language publications and national grants) while maintaining their capital in the international arena. By framing the returnees’ experience as a struggle against symbolic violence and a strategic deployment of dual capital, this study contributes to our understanding of the intricate processes of capital reproduction in a globalized higher education landscape. It underscores not only the resilience of these “academic chameleons” but also the pervasive power structures that shape academic life.</p>