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A woman in China has been mocked after she expressed shock on finding a male therapist at her spa appointment. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Gender & Diversity

China woman shocked to see male therapist at spa appointment; mocked for ‘ignorance’

Undressed client balks on hearing voice of masseur; spa boss tells her ‘she is old enough to be his mum’ so he would not be ‘interested’ in her.

Live-stream ban for China influencer with 44 million followers who focused on breasts

China teacher suspended for cursing at noisy pupils, hoping they get the flu

Trending in China

China aircraft carrier allows use of naked flames for TCM therapy popular with troops

Military chiefs describe flames used in cupping treatment as ‘necessary fire’; say strict fire prevention code enforced on ship.

China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, has made an exception for the use of naked flames on board to accommodate a traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/Chinese Ministry of Defense
China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, has made an exception for the use of naked flames on board to accommodate a traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/Chinese Ministry of Defense

Trending in China

China village imposes ‘unjust’ fines for out-of-province marriage, cohabitation

Village committee accused of being ‘crazy for money’ after seeking to impose fines for being ‘rowdy while drinking’ and ‘spreading rumours’.

Trending in China

‘Can’t buy true love’: Chinese man abducted as child returns to birth family after reunion

Now 26, man says he ‘feels a deep sense of belonging’ after being reunited; works as volunteer with group who help find missing children.

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Gender & Diversity

Explainer | How China Dai women use chickens to find husbands, reject unwanted suitors

Women in 1.3 million-strong ethnic minority group use price of a cooked chicken, secret meetings in the woods to find the ideal partner.

We explain why women from China’s Dai ethnic minority group use chickens as a matchmaking tool. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina
We explain why women from China’s Dai ethnic minority group use chickens as a matchmaking tool. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina

Trending in China

China university offers US$11,000 ‘micro’ overseas study to help students pass failed exams

Private educational institute ‘coerces’ parents to fork out huge sums for non-existent study sessions or face their children being expelled.

Trending in China

China mall fits glass windows on men’s toilet doors that turn transparent when users smoke

Privacy fears emerge over special technology introduced after no-smoking warnings and sloganeering failed to extinguish problem.

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China Economy

Hard work, long hours fuelled China’s rise. Now, it weighs longer breaks

China, one of the world’s hardest-working countries, is adopting incentives to increase time off – and potentially boost consumer spending.

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Workers at the construction site for the main tower of Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, China. Photo: Xinhua

China Personalities

Profile | China actress Mao Xiaotong abandoned by dad, rejects his post-fame cash demands

‘Cute and sweet’ exterior of 37-year-old actress hides an inner strength that saw her stand up to her ‘alcoholic’ father, philandering ex-boyfriend.

Chinese actress Mao Xiaotong, who known for her pure image, has endured severe hardships in her life, including being abandoned at birth by her father and discovering her boyfriend’s affair in 2017. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/QQ.com
Chinese actress Mao Xiaotong, who known for her pure image, has endured severe hardships in her life, including being abandoned at birth by her father and discovering her boyfriend’s affair in 2017. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/QQ.com

Trending in China

Japanese tourist in China gets extreme kindness after car crash, changes perceptions

Amid Sino-Japanese tensions, woman describes treatment she received as ‘incredibly warm, genuine and professional’.

Gender & Diversity

Japan girl pop star comes out as transmasculine non-binary after breast removal

20-year-old rapper says being born, raised a woman caused her ‘deep discomfort’; hopes operation can ‘shine a light’, divides online opinion.

Trending in China

China school awards pupils with merit certificate-imprinted bedding sets

Teachers praised for understanding ‘juvenile psychology’ by presenting children with personalised quilt covers, bedsheets, pillows at awards.

A school in China has introduced a unique initiative to encourage academic excellence by awarding students who achieve high scores or show significant improvement with bedding sets imprinted with their certificates of merit. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Trending in China

Chinese woman resembles actress Joey Wong after losing 20kg, plans dance career

Married 32-year-old who piled on pounds by binge-eating charts weight loss journey online, now has better skin, new-found confidence.

A woman in China who became overweight because of binge eating has lost 20 kilogrammes and now looks like Taiwanese actress Joey Wong. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Sohu
A woman in China who became overweight because of binge eating has lost 20 kilogrammes and now looks like Taiwanese actress Joey Wong. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Sohu

Trending in China

China boy breaks US$280,000 gold crown on display; owner will not pursue damages

Golden headgear lovingly made by husband as wedding gift for wife suffers ‘serious damage’ as exhibition display case tumbles over.

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Trending in China

China eatery owners use cancer-hit business rival’s payment QR code for day to raise funds

Well-liked 50-year-old who worked so hard ‘he had no time to go to the toilet’ feels love of fellow food sellers who raise US$2,900 in 24 hours.

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People & Culture

Indonesian wife, 24, surprised husband, 62, was groom at event she attended at 9

After a young Indonesian woman married a much older man who had wed twice before, she realised they had met at one of his other nuptials when she was a child.

A 19-year-old Indonesian woman finds out after marrying a man aged 57, that she attended a previous wedding of his when she was just nine years old. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
A 19-year-old Indonesian woman finds out after marrying a man aged 57, that she attended a previous wedding of his when she was just nine years old. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com

China Personalities

Profile | Mystery Chinese woman steals show at 2024 Cannes Film Festival, but who is she?

A mystery woman from China, who stole the show on the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has been revealed to be a rich online influencer and wife of a famous mainland musician.

Trending in China

Singaporean influencer becomes grandmother at 34, jokes that she ‘inspired’ son

A popular online influencer in Singapore who has become a grandmother at the age of 34 has pledged to support and guide her 17-year-old son.

Trending in China

Man has child by surrogate without telling family as he wants to be grandfather

A 50-something woman in China was shocked to find a baby in her home when she got in from work one day, and that the child belonged to her husband who had hired a surrogacy agency without telling her.

A man had secretly hired a surrogacy agency to get a baby girl after his only daughter told him she did not want to have children. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Joe Wong poses for a portrait after his Joe Wong: The Twin Tariff Show in Hong Kong. Photo: Alexander Mak

Joe Wong, Ronny Chieng and the rise of Asian voices in comedy

Asian comedians were once forced to resort to stereotypes to find a platform – but a wave of pioneering stars is changing that.

Reading Time:8 minutes
A picture of a young Teresa Teng in Bangkok from The Story of Teresa Teng by Billy. A former employee of the Chiang Mai hotel where she lived and died reveals what happened on the day she died in 1995. Photo: The Story of Teresa Teng by Billy

The day Teresa Teng died in Thailand – what the butler saw

Reading Time:12 minutes
A still from the video of Mirror’s “12”, which was released in 2021. Photo: handout

How Cantopop created Hong Kong’s own Christmas soundtrack

Reading Time:3 minutes
Lam Lau with his son Aidan at Lau Kee Boat Noodles in Hong Kong, which has been in business since 1981. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

How a vanishing Hong Kong boat culture has kept its cuisine afloat

Reading Time:7 minutes
GN Architects’ Seaside Pavilion, on Chaishan island, Zhejiang province, clinched the Temporary Architecture prize in the 2025 RIBA Asia Pacific Awards. Photo: courtesy GN Architects

Building on waves: a Chinese triumph in temporary architecture

Reading Time:4 minutes
Christmas decorations in Landmark in Central, Hong Kong, in 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: Hong Kong’s Christmas festivities, from the 1970s to 90s

Reading Time:1 minute
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MULTIMEDIA
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Stalking, illegal tracking, assault: is China’s fan culture off the rails?

When obsession tips over into stalking a number of studies have found that the stalked celebrity often represented an idealised version of the stalker. Photo: CGTN
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His son’s rare disease turned this Chinese father into a home-grown drug-maker

Despite having only a high-school education, a father in Kunming taught himself how to produce drugs for his son who suffers from Menkes disease. Photo: Weibo
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Zip line ‘retires’ after 20 years in China

Thrilling commuter zip line ‘retires’ in southwest China after 20 years
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China’s female comedians tackle stereotypes

China’s new wave of young women stand-up comedians tackle stereotypes
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