<p>This paper examines how non-Chinese young users in Australia and New Zealand engage with and interpret Chinese cultural content on TikTok. Using uses and gratifications theory as its analytical framework, the study draws on data from a large-scale survey and in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that life-style oriented content attracted broader interest than symbolic culture forms because it better matched users’ entertainment-oriented motivations. Most participants engaged through low-effort actions, such as liking and sharing, whereas high-effort behaviors, including commenting and producing derivative videos, were associated with stronger needs for identity expression and social interaction. Users’ interpretations were shaped primarily by personal gratifications rather than by political or ideological considerations. By demonstrating that users’ motivations influence not only content selection and engagement but also interpretive frames, the study extends the explanatory scope of uses and gratifications theory. It also offers practical insights for improving the communication of Chinese culture to young audiences in Oceania.</p>