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Chinese culture

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Chinese superstitions
Martial arts
Lunar New Year
Chinese history
Hong Kong culture
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
While Binondo today is known as a foodie’s paradise, it was once better known as a financial hub. Photo: Shutterstock
Asia travel

History of the world’s oldest Chinatown, Binondo, now a foodie paradise

Established in 1594 in the Philippine capital Manila, Binondo has gone from financial hub to culinary hotspot boasting amazing restaurants.

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Chinese culture

Discover the rich history and modern revival of Bangkok’s Chinatown

Chinese culture

How Chinese in the US hired a cinema to see Ne Zha 2 on IMAX

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Chinese culture

The turbulent history of San Francisco’s Chinatown, North America’s oldest

From the Chinese Exclusion Act and 1906 earthquake to sex-trafficking rings and ‘paper son’ system, this Chinatown’s story is a bumpy one.

Large crowds fill Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the US state of California for the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
Large crowds fill Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the US state of California for the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
Chinese culture

No hot food before Ching Ming? Diving into the forgotten Cold Food Festival

A nobleman once cut a piece of his flesh to feed an exiled Chinese prince. The Cold Food Festival in his honour was inspired by his death.

Chinese culture

Explainer | What is the Chinese Ching Ming Festival and how is it marked?

Traditionally a Chinese spring ritual, the tomb-sweeping festival is said to have its roots in an emperor’s cruelty to a follower.

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Chinese culture

Seoul and Incheon’s Chinatowns tell stories of Chinese immigration to Korea

The history of South Korea’s two main Chinatowns also reveals the complex relationship between Korea and China over the past few centuries.

The main entrance gate to Incheon Chinatown, South Korea’s oldest Chinese enclave. Photo: AP
The main entrance gate to Incheon Chinatown, South Korea’s oldest Chinese enclave. Photo: AP
Chinese zodiac predictions

Is Year of the Snake’s third month lucky for you? 12 zodiac sign horoscopes

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for love, career, health and finance for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

Chinese culture

50 years of growth and cultural change in London’s Chinatown

Early Chinatown was a place of restaurants, underground gambling dens and brothels, but it has grown more affluent and diverse over time.

Asia travel

Chinese-Thai Phuket hotelier channels ‘true spirit of being Peranakan’

The owner of Hotel Verdigris in Phuket Old Town, Thailand, Pichakorn Phanichwong reflects on her ‘mixed concept’ heritage.

Hotelier Pichakorn Phanichwong in the Reading Room of Hotel Verdigris. Photo: handout
Art

Contemporary Chinese ink artist tips hat to singer Anita Mui in show

Artist Hong Wai’s exhibition ‘No Way To Be Good’ pays homage to the late Cantopop diva and to Hong Kong’s ‘golden age’ of entertainment.

Artist Hong Wai at her show “No Way To Be Good”. Photo: Elson Li
Artist Hong Wai at her show “No Way To Be Good”. Photo: Elson Li
Wellness

Explainer | Ayurveda, TCM share approach to healing. How else are they similar?

Ancient medical systems have much in common, including a focus on the individual, not the disease. We compare and contrast their features.

Performing arts in Hong Kong

Cantonese opera or J-pop? Hong Kong’s Rika Woo does both. Here’s why

To some, Rika Woo is a J-pop singer. To others, she is a Cantonese opera performer. The Hong Kong artiste explains why she does both.

Chinese culture

Explainer | What Journey to the West reveals about early China-India exchanges

16th century novel tells the tale of Xuanzang, a monk who contributed to Chinese religion and medicine after his travels to Buddhist India.

A still from the Chinese TV series Journey to the West, which ran from 1986 to 2000. Wu Cheng’en’s 16th-century book still holds cultural importance in the modern era. Photo: CCTV
History

Chinese stories of California gold rush told in Hong Kong exhibition

Sojourning in Gold Mountain at Hong Kong Museum of History shines a light on migrants’ journeys from China to San Francisco in the 1800s.

A rattan suitcase from the Sojourning in Gold Mountain exhibition in Hong Kong.
A rattan suitcase from the Sojourning in Gold Mountain exhibition in Hong Kong.
Chinese zodiac predictions

How’s your luck in month 2 of Year of the Snake? 12 zodiac sign forecasts

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for love, career, health and finance for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

Chinese culture

How Chinese astrology and aura readings can find your ideal partner

A Hong Kong-based Chinese astrologer and an intuitive reader explain how they use birth chart and aura readings to help people find partners.

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Chinese culture

Beijing’s Palace Museum taps its storage for relics to restore

The museum of imperial relics founded in the Forbidden City in 1925 has retrieved stored artefacts to restore and eventually put on show.

A conservator restores a scroll at the Palace Museum in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
A conservator restores a scroll at the Palace Museum in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Chinese culture

5 things to know about Ne Zha 2, megahit Chinese animated movie

Film broke Chinese box office records and marks a shift in the industry. Why do people love Yang Yu’s folk tale? Will there be a Ne Zha 3?

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Chinese culture

How Chinese culture has inspired video game series such as Pokémon

After Black Myth: Wukong’s success, we look at games like Street Fighter and Pokémon that reference Chinese history, myths and martial arts.

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Chinese culture

Wait until this date to open your Lunar New Year red packets

There is a particular day considered the best and most auspicious on which to open your red packets. Try to resist the temptation until then.

There is a particular day and time considered the best and most auspicious to open your Lunar New Year red packets. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinese culture

Feng shui master’s advice for Dragons in the Year of the Snake

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan shares where Dragons can place auspicious elements, colours and symbols for luck in the Year of the Snake.

Dragons will experience a complete turnaround of fortunes in the Year of the Snake. A feng shui master shares how to maximise luck in health, wealth and love. Photo: Shutterstock
Dragons will experience a complete turnaround of fortunes in the Year of the Snake. A feng shui master shares how to maximise luck in health, wealth and love. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinese culture

Born in the Year of the Dragon? Here’s everything you need to know in 2025

From predictions to curses and feng shui tips for Dragons in the Year of the Snake.

Valentine's Day

Asian Valentine’s days, from Lantern Festival and Qixi to White Day

As well as Valentine’s Day, Japanese celebrate White Day and mainland Chinese the ‘520’ festival, while Korea’s Black Day is for singles.

Chinese culture

Born in the Year of the Rabbit? Here’s everything you need to know in 2025

From predictions to curses and feng shui tips for Rabbits in the Year of the Snake.

Illustration: SCMP Graphic
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