https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/326906/feed Latest news and updates on Chinese culture including the country’s traditions, food, values, history and festivals. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Hainan chicken rice, known for its tender, poached chicken and fragrant rice flavoured with chicken stock, is one of the many great Asian comfort foods. Paired with a trio of chilli, ginger and soy dipping sauces, every bite offers a customisable balance of rich, nostalgic flavours. The original dish hails from Hainan, a Chinese island province, where traditionally it is made with local Wenchang chicken. The dish evolved as Hainanese natives emigrated to Southeast Asia, with Vietnam’s com ga... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369801/how-vietnams-twist-hainan-chicken-rice-tells-rich-story-migration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369801/how-vietnams-twist-hainan-chicken-rice-tells-rich-story-migration?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Christie’s auctioneer Rupert Banner leans forward with practised showmanship as bidding stalls on a rare Yongzheng bowl near New York’s iconic Rockefeller Centre. He pauses as if willing offers from thin air, scanning dozens of in-person buyers and phone banks connecting with China, London, Texas. It will be a bad look if the frenzy abates for this delicate peach-decorated bowl highlighted on Christie’s glossy Chinese sale catalogue and online advertising. But bidding soon resumes with a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3369654/chinese-art-takes-long-march-home-us-museums?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3369654/chinese-art-takes-long-march-home-us-museums?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Angela Hui Angela Hui Every fortnight in Walthamstow, East London, a sign with a hand-painted goldfish pointing towards a kitchen window appears on the side of a residential building: “Lucky Yu Bakery pick up”. On the other side of that window is Hai Lin Leung, a general practitioner selling Cantonese-influenced baked goods from her home – think congee sourdough, bolo bao (pineapple buns), gai mei bao (cocktail buns) and more. There is no shopfront, set opening hours or seating; yet queues regularly spill down the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369518/mala-coriander-congee-uk-doctor-sells-cantonese-inspired-bread-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369518/mala-coriander-congee-uk-doctor-sells-cantonese-inspired-bread-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung As international fashion companies increasingly incorporate traditional Chinese design elements into their collections, accusations of cultural appropriation have flooded social media. In recent years, brands such as Zara and Adidas have been criticised for adopting Chinese tailoring features such as Mandarin collars and pankou, or frog buttons. While Zara drew backlash for mislabelling these elements as generic “fireman clasps” without acknowledging their heritage, Adidas sparked debate over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369501/adopting-chinese-fashion-appropriation-or-appreciation-artisans-weigh-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369501/adopting-chinese-fashion-appropriation-or-appreciation-artisans-weigh-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:15:06 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon Munich’s Oktoberfest was never on my travel bucket list. But it offered a chance to meet up with good friends from Hong Kong and their adorable toddler, Joshua, who go to the festival every year as a family. So there I was, spending a weekend at Theresienwiese, surrounded by bewildering varieties of beer and their drinkers. The annual Oktoberfest, first held in October 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, is about more than just beer. There are amusement rides, games, stalls selling things you... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369449/surprising-history-beer-china-li-tsingtao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369449/surprising-history-beer-china-li-tsingtao?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:15:06 +0000 Francesca Fearon Francesca Fearon London Fashion Week drew the clothing crowd from New York to the British capital to see the highly anticipated return of Alexander McQueen and the debut of Christopher Kane at Mulberry. The event, which ran from September 17 to 21, showcased memorable collections from Erdem, Roksanda, Simone Rocha and Pauline Dujancourt. The week was rounded off by Burberry designer Daniel Lee’s collaboration with textile designer Celia Birtwell. London Fashion Week has since also become a platform for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369540/chinese-designers-make-bold-statement-london-fashion-week-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369540/chinese-designers-make-bold-statement-london-fashion-week-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis It is easy to misremember the Hong Kong New Wave of the late 1970s and 80s. Nearly five decades after its inception, that iconic chapter in the city’s cinema history is generally thought of as a socially inclined art-house movement that addressed everyday issues – a stark contrast to the martial arts films that dominated the local box office at the time. While partially true, viewing New Wave films merely as local iterations of 1960s and 70s rarefied European art-house cinema misses the mark.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3369332/how-hong-kong-new-wave-directors-hijacked-martial-arts-and-crime-films-make-art?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3369332/how-hong-kong-new-wave-directors-hijacked-martial-arts-and-crime-films-make-art?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Online claims that archaeologists have identified the source of mercury in the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang – China’s first emperor, who unified the country more than 2,000 years ago – have revived interest in ancient cinnabar sites in northwestern China’s Shaanxi province. The claims, which sent related hashtags trending on social media late last month, centred on three sites in Xunyang where archaeologists last year found evidence of cinnabar mining, processing and transport during the pre-Qin... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3369469/online-claims-revive-mercury-mystery-around-tomb-first-chinese-emperor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3369469/online-claims-revive-mercury-mystery-around-tomb-first-chinese-emperor?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A banknote clasped between her hands, Liu Haiyan prays to the protector of the Wudang Mountains. The range in central China’s Hubei province has long been considered sacred in Taoism. “I asked him to bless our motherland with favourable weather and to make it even more prosperous,” Liu says while sitting outside the Golden Hall, a Taoist temple at the summit of Tianzhu Peak. “This place watches over our country,” she adds. “We’re Chinese, and this is part of our faith.” Tourists and pilgrims in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369441/how-chinas-wudang-mountains-draw-droves-visitors-search-spiritual-cleansing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369441/how-chinas-wudang-mountains-draw-droves-visitors-search-spiritual-cleansing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s broadcasting regulator has called for greater support for live-action dramas as the government seeks to steer the booming microdrama industry towards higher-quality production and tighter rights safeguards amid the rapid rise of AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) has created innovation and production possibilities for microdramas, while also posing challenges over content quality and rights protection, according to Wang Xiaoliang from the National Radio and Television... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369183/slow-beautiful-china-launches-war-against-ai-drama-goes-beyond-algorithms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3369183/slow-beautiful-china-launches-war-against-ai-drama-goes-beyond-algorithms?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Victoria Burrows Victoria Burrows The term “Chinese cuisine” is an almost pointless label, encompassing as it does styles of cooking as diverse as Sichuan, Dongbei and Zhejiang, to name but a few. If thinking about a monolithic Chinese cuisine is inappropriate, does the same hold true for Guangdong’s Cantonese cuisine? Consider chicken. A classic Hong Kong-style preparation might see white-cut chicken cooked in a simmering aromatic stock so the meat is gently poached and the skin adopts a gelatinous layer. Further up the Pearl... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3369211/hong-kong-guangdong-exploring-rich-tapestry-cantonese-culinary-traditions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3369211/hong-kong-guangdong-exploring-rich-tapestry-cantonese-culinary-traditions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Even though he was an experienced swimmer and a medical check-up showed he had no condition that made exercise unsafe, 66-year-old Zhao Xin said he was stopped by staff at a local swimming pool from swimming with his grandson because of his age. “The pool’s staff said it wasn’t able to mitigate the risks of exercise for older people, and that if it admitted swimmers over 65, local authorities would penalise it,” Zhao said. “After I retired, I found that many times I want to spend money but am... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin While foreign leaders and their families walk the iconic restored sections of the Great Wall around Beijing, the ancient stones of a remote Ming-era stretch of the structure in northern central China have been sacrificed for cheaper dumping of coal-mining waste. For nearly 20 years, a section of the wall in Ningwu county, Shanxi province, was used as a short cut to dump slag, despite whistle-blowers repeatedly raising the alarm to officials, according to a report by Chinese state broadcaster... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368730/remote-section-chinas-great-wall-damaged-20-years-mine-waste-dumping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368730/remote-section-chinas-great-wall-damaged-20-years-mine-waste-dumping?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 09:57:51 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon Before I went to Warsaw, I knew little of the city beyond the fact that it was Poland’s capital. I had not realised that much of present-day Warsaw, including its beautiful historic centre, was rebuilt after World War II. Warsaw’s wartime destruction was not merely the consequence of battle, but a deliberate campaign by its Nazi German occupiers to erase much of the city. In August 1944, the Warsaw Uprising – a Polish armed revolt by the city’s underground resistance against German occupation –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368383/when-centuries-chinese-knowledge-were-destroyed-warlord-who-burned-capital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368383/when-centuries-chinese-knowledge-were-destroyed-warlord-who-burned-capital?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Two overseas branches of Hong Kong’s modern Chinese restaurant Mott 32, located in Toronto and Vancouver, were crowned the best Chinese restaurants in Canada in the 17th edition of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. The awards ceremony, held in the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver on September 23, saw these restaurants top the ranked 2026 Elite 30 Canada list. Beyond recognising the country’s best Chinese restaurants, the awards also spotlighted 12 signature dishes and honoured both emerging... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368785/chinese-restaurant-awards-2026-hong-kongs-mott-32-takes-top-spot-canada?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368785/chinese-restaurant-awards-2026-hong-kongs-mott-32-takes-top-spot-canada?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:15:04 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Mooncakes, a sweet staple for China’s annual Mid-Autumn Festival, are not just for people any more. Humans are pulling back, but dogs are digging in. So are cats. Pet mooncakes are popping up across China, from major retailers such as Sam’s Club to online stores and small bakeries. And many are quickly selling out. In the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu, a pack of pet mooncakes selling online for about 50 yuan (US$8) has racked up thousands of sales, news outlet thecover.cn reported. In the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368747/mooncakes-dog-how-china-reinventing-its-iconic-festive-snack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368747/mooncakes-dog-how-china-reinventing-its-iconic-festive-snack?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:00:26 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam As moon-gazers look skyward during the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend, they should spare a thought for Wang Zhenyi, one of China’s most notable astronomers and mathematicians – and a woman. Living during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), when a learned woman was expected to do little more than ornament a household with poetry, Wang wanted something bolder: to explain eclipses. Her answer was physical, not mystical. It involved light, shadow and the movement of the moon. Using a round table for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368457/how-wang-zhenyi-chinese-female-astronomer-and-mathematician-defied-gender-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368457/how-wang-zhenyi-chinese-female-astronomer-and-mathematician-defied-gender-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Jing Zhang Jing Zhang Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan has long been a symbol of China’s fashion soft power at high-profile global summits as she accompanies President Xi Jinping. She has eschewed Western luxury labels and logos in favour of chic local brands and modern Chinese styles – a well-tailored qipao, say, or elegant scarves and coats in formal yet feminine colours. Case in point: the outfit she wore as she stepped off the plane for the much-anticipated Xi-Trump meeting in the US on September 23. Her grey... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3368679/how-chinese-first-lady-peng-liyuan-symbol-chinas-fashion-soft-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3368679/how-chinese-first-lady-peng-liyuan-symbol-chinas-fashion-soft-power?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:23:08 +0000 Sheryl Chow Sheryl Chow Comprising 100 performers, led by conductor Yan Huichang, “Thousand Reeds, One Universe” was both the beginning and the end. The concert on September 20 was the conclusion of the International Sheng and Reeds Festival 2026 and a successful commencement of the 2026/27 season of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO). Continuing the vision of the festival to forge a borderless world in harmony, the concert brought together a family of reed instruments from around China and the world, including the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368507/traditional-wind-instruments-both-east-and-west-blow-storm-hong-kong-concert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368507/traditional-wind-instruments-both-east-and-west-blow-storm-hong-kong-concert?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:15:07 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau From moongazing and picnics to bus rides and a lantern extravaganza, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong has plenty of activities for everyone. This year the festival falls on September 25, a Friday, with the following day designated as a public holiday in Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post rounds up Mid-Autumn Festival offerings. 1. What are the highlights at night? At Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has organised the city’s first International Lantern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368553/moongazing-bus-tours-how-celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368553/moongazing-bus-tours-how-celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:54:04 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As symbolic of the Mid-Autumn Festival as the legend of Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit, mooncakes have a history dating back centuries, with their first mention during the Song dynasty (960-1279) in author Wu Zimu’s Dreaming of Grain. Early mooncakes were a far cry from the creative and intricate designs we see today. The rudimentary cakes were flat and round, with a thin outer crust and fillings such as lotus seed paste or the auspicious five kernels. During the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368),... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368460/history-mooncake-moulds-and-their-designs-and-those-preserving-craft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368460/history-mooncake-moulds-and-their-designs-and-those-preserving-craft?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:59:27 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo While mass-produced Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns of every size, shape and style can be bought with a single click these days, a dedicated few in Hong Kong are defying the fast consumerism trend by keeping the objects’ traditional craftsmanship alive. Among them is Hong Kong fashion designer and lantern artisan Wan Wong, 52, who spends hours every year crafting traditional bamboo, wire and cellophane lanterns by hand. Lanterns remain a cherished centrepiece of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Southeast... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368319/how-mid-autumn-festival-lanterns-are-traditionally-made-and-artisan-defending-craft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368319/how-mid-autumn-festival-lanterns-are-traditionally-made-and-artisan-defending-craft?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:15:04 +0000 Phoebe Amoroso Phoebe Amoroso With its dark-wood-furnished interior that is part-boutique, part-workshop and part-cafe, there is a lot to notice about Urushi to Hibi in Tokyo. The daily line of customers outside the door, however, is mostly here for one thing: its Hong Kong-style milk tea. Behind the counter, the three co-founders – Lei Shengyu, Zhang Qingyue and Ji Qiuzi – work tirelessly, alternating between taking and prepping orders. On this day, Ji is making the milk tea, face full of concentration as he strains it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367719/how-hong-kong-style-milk-tea-shop-tokyo-has-customers-queuing-out-door?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367719/how-hong-kong-style-milk-tea-shop-tokyo-has-customers-queuing-out-door?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter Few objects carry the cultural weight of the Chinese drum. Its sound has long marked moments of ceremony and celebration, from ancient rituals to family gatherings, where its rhythm has come to signify harmony, prosperity and shared joy. For Chow Tai Fook, the drum now finds a new expression in gold and diamonds with Song, a collection that translates one of China’s most enduring symbols into contemporary jewellery. The collection takes its name from the Chinese character “頌”, associated with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3367818/style-edit-chow-tai-fooks-song-collection-gives-chinese-drum-golden-update?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3367818/style-edit-chow-tai-fooks-song-collection-gives-chinese-drum-golden-update?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Lisa Cam,Ashlyn Chak Lisa Cam,Ashlyn Chak In the first instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine, Lisa Cam and Ashlyn Chak explore how a new generation of health-conscious youth is discovering century-old leung cha and helping neighbourhood tea shop owners safeguard a dying trade. Long before modern chain pharmacies and over-the-counter painkillers were readily available in Hong Kong, there were leung cha: intensely bitter herbal “cooling teas” brewed in massive brass cauldrons in traditional... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367808/guide-hong-kongs-bitter-herbal-teas-and-how-gen-z-reviving-health-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367808/guide-hong-kongs-bitter-herbal-teas-and-how-gen-z-reviving-health-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I spent a week in Warsaw and ate more pierogi than I could shake a stick at. These beloved traditional Polish dumplings come filled with potatoes, cheese, meat, mushrooms and even fruit. Boiled or fried, they may look familiar to anyone acquainted with jiaozi, the Chinese dumpling, although their flavours are distinctly Polish. This is not to suggest that dumplings travelled directly from China to Poland. One theory posits that dumpling-like foods – from Nepalese momo and Central Asian and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367680/polish-priests-perilous-mission-save-doomed-chinese-dynasty-catholic-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367680/polish-priests-perilous-mission-save-doomed-chinese-dynasty-catholic-links?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:15:05 +0000 Chang Zi Qian Chang Zi Qian A friend who is three years into her doctoral programme in the San Francisco Bay Area texted me the other day to say she had finally figured out what was different about living in the US. “I don’t need to perform any more. I am allowed to just … exist.” Naturally, I asked for elaboration. She said that back home in China, every decision she made came with an interview she did not sign up for. Every Chinese New Year, some relative would probe into her personal life with forensic precision. In... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367701/unspoken-reason-my-chinese-friends-choose-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367701/unspoken-reason-my-chinese-friends-choose-america?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin The United States has returned dozens of cultural relics to China ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s coming visit to Washington, a goodwill gesture to help pave the way for a positive summit. At the handover ceremony at the Chinese embassy in Washington on Wednesday, China officials received 58 cultural relics and palaeontological fossils from the cultural property, art and antiquities programme of US Homeland Security Investigations. A further six items were returned a day later by the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368033/us-hands-over-64-smuggled-artefacts-china-diplomatic-push-leaders-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368033/us-hands-over-64-smuggled-artefacts-china-diplomatic-push-leaders-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis For decades, Hong Kong’s film industry has cultivated an extraordinary roster of female screen warriors, defying the city’s historically conservative gender roles. From 1960s icon Cheng Pei-pei – known as the “Queen of Swords” – to the globally recognised Michelle Yeoh, the city’s male-dominated studios have consistently given women the chance to fight just as hard as the men in their fabled martial arts films. This offers an interesting comparison to Hollywood. The United States has produced... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367658/cheng-pei-pei-michelle-yeoh-hong-kong-cinemas-history-action-heroines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367658/cheng-pei-pei-michelle-yeoh-hong-kong-cinemas-history-action-heroines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Few figures in Qing dynasty (1644-1912) history embody the tragedy of shifting tides quite like Duanfang, a Manchu statesman born in 1861. Duanfang rose through the imperial ranks, earned distinction for his service during the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) and went on to hold major regional posts, such as governor of China’s Hubei province and viceroy of the Liangjiang region. His career took a bizarre turn when he was stripped of his viceroyalty in 1909 for supposedly showing disrespect by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367584/tragic-qing-dynasty-politician-whose-legacy-lives-descendants-new-novel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367584/tragic-qing-dynasty-politician-whose-legacy-lives-descendants-new-novel?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang One stormy night last month, a driver surnamed He saw two tall men get out of a car in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and pull a young woman off the street and into the vehicle. During the struggle, her umbrella fell to the ground. She did not appear willing. Suspicious, He followed the vehicle and later reported the incident to local police, supplying them with footage he had recorded. Thanks to him and the police, the abducted 18-year-old was rescued from a forced marriage. According to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367606/why-women-china-are-still-risk-abduction-and-forced-marriage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367606/why-women-china-are-still-risk-abduction-and-forced-marriage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam At 89, many rely on glasses or hearing aids. Wu Bin needs neither. Daily runs and regular football games keep the legendary martial arts coach of action icon Jet Li in fighting form. Wu is a convincing advertisement for the wellness benefits of lifelong discipline. He still travels widely and recently presided over the 18th Hong Kong International Wushu Competition, where Dragon He, the son of another of Wu’s former students, Jaden He Jingde, was competing. A founder of the Beijing Wushu Team,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367392/how-jet-lis-trainer-wu-bin-89-ages-well-and-still-nurtures-martial-arts-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367392/how-jet-lis-trainer-wu-bin-89-ages-well-and-still-nurtures-martial-arts-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:00:04 +0000 Hoang Thi Ha,Pham Thi Phuong Thao Hoang Thi Ha,Pham Thi Phuong Thao Vietnam is often held up as proof of China’s underwhelming soft power in Southeast Asia: a millennium of resistance against Chinese domination, a border war within living memory, unresolved maritime disputes and elite surveys that consistently show Vietnamese respondents’ deep distrust of Beijing. Yet beneath these strategic tensions, a quieter shift is under way. Young Vietnamese are warming to Chinese culture, language, lifestyles and economic opportunity. From crowds queuing for Labubu toys... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3367227/politics-aside-young-vietnamese-are-warming-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3367227/politics-aside-young-vietnamese-are-warming-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Kevin McSpadden Kevin McSpadden It sometimes guards kingdoms and empires; other times, it hoards treasures within a hidden cave. The dragon frequently symbolises power, strength, and good fortune. In contrast, its counterpart, the phoenix, meets its end in a pile of ashes only to be reborn at the pinnacle of its beauty, symbolising grace, beauty, and rebirth. Individually, the dragon and phoenix are iconic figures in Chinese mythology. Together, these contrasting creatures embody a yin-and-yang that serves as an important... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3367261/symbol-harmony-chinese-scientists-discover-earliest-dragon-phoenix-pairing-ancient-tomb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3367261/symbol-harmony-chinese-scientists-discover-earliest-dragon-phoenix-pairing-ancient-tomb?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I suspect many Americans are embarrassed by their president’s recent actions. On August 27, Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” following the collapse of trade talks between the United States and Canada. The change applies only in the US, while Canada and the rest of the world continue to call it Lake Ontario. Doug Ford, premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, has put up a sign declaring “Lake Ontario Now and Always”. The lake, meanwhile, remains... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3366754/amid-trumps-lake-america-stink-chinese-emperor-whose-renaming-campaign-backfired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3366754/amid-trumps-lake-america-stink-chinese-emperor-whose-renaming-campaign-backfired?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:15:04 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Women are vastly under-represented in ancient Chinese literature. The few who appear, often in myth or semi-fiction, serve primarily to reflect that era’s moral expectations for women. From filial warriors to patriotic seductresses and femmes fatales, these women have one thing in common – they all trade personal autonomy for survival in a man’s world. Here are three fictional women in Chinese history and what makes their names live on to this day. 1. Hua Mulan The only historical record of Hua... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3366929/famous-chinese-women-folklore-hua-mulan-consort-who-brought-down-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3366929/famous-chinese-women-folklore-hua-mulan-consort-who-brought-down-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam The elements play a powerful role in the eighth month of the Year of the Fire Horse, with a surge of metal energy bringing clarity to some zodiac signs and obstacles to others. Read on to see how feng shui master Andrew Kwan predicts these shifting elements will affect your career, romance and well-being – and where you should exercise caution. Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020) This month will generally be favourable for those born in the Year of the Rat. The flowing metal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3367035/year-horse-2026-eighth-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3367035/year-horse-2026-eighth-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:15:05 +0000 James Marsh James Marsh 3.5/5 stars Writer-director Wen Muye’s bombastic anti-war drama Once Upon a Time in the Middle East arrives in Hong Kong having already grossed a whopping 2 billion yuan (US$298 million) at the mainland box office, delivering a message of peace and diplomacy through the appreciation of authentic Chinese cooking. Lambasting both sides of an unnamed Middle Eastern conflict – the United States’ 2003 invasion of Iraq in everything but name – this latest effort by the Dying to Survive filmmaker... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3366846/once-upon-time-middle-east-movie-review-shen-teng-leads-bombastic-anti-war-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3366846/once-upon-time-middle-east-movie-review-shen-teng-leads-bombastic-anti-war-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Jill Lander Jill Lander The second month of autumn, represented by the energy of the Rooster, indicates that this is the month when we should all practise open communication and avoid blowing minor issues out of proportion. September is traditionally the month of communication and commercialism. It is the Fire Rooster month. This month is all about letting go and clearing emotional and physical clutter. In traditional Chinese culture, the rooster’s energy is glamorous and detail-oriented. Associated with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3366778/horoscopes-whats-your-luck-september-2026-fire-rooster-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3366778/horoscopes-whats-your-luck-september-2026-fire-rooster-month?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Millie Hughes Millie Hughes A trip to Puer in China’s Yunnan province changed the way Hongkongers Raphael Chow and his wife, Joyce Ding, thought about tea. Home of its namesake fermented brew, the city is widely regarded as the ancient birthplace of Camellia sinensis – the plant from which most of the world’s tea is made. The London-based couple not only fell in love with the region’s teas, but also with its communal tea-drinking culture. Upon returning to the UK capital, they founded their own fine loose leaf tea company,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366707/chinese-matchas-rapid-rise-and-hong-kong-couple-stirring-uk-tea-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366707/chinese-matchas-rapid-rise-and-hong-kong-couple-stirring-uk-tea-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick When the Belt and Road Initiative is discussed, the imagery is often concrete: ports, railways, motorways and transmission lines. But across Hong Kong, a parallel form of connectivity is playing out in galleries, concert halls, classrooms and studios. At the Hong Kong Palace Museum, visitors have been encountering thousands of years of Chinese art and history alongside “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums”, which brought 250 objects from Africa to West Kowloon. In September,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366771/hong-kongs-belt-and-road-cultural-exchange-builds-ties-beyond-railways-and-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3366771/hong-kongs-belt-and-road-cultural-exchange-builds-ties-beyond-railways-and-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:30:09 +0000 Jakki Phillips Jakki Phillips Imagine a classic Chinese landscape of bamboo forest, rice paddies and lotus-filled waterways, dotted with villages that seem untouched by time. Now add to that scene hundreds of castle-like watchtowers, their turrets rising unexpectedly against the skyline. This is Kaiping in Guangdong province, just a couple of hours from Hong Kong by direct high-speed train from West Kowloon Station. It is one of mainland China’s lesser-known Unesco World Heritage sites and home to more than 1,800 distinctive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366303/why-chinas-unesco-listed-kaiping-watchtowers-are-best-discovered-two-wheels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366303/why-chinas-unesco-listed-kaiping-watchtowers-are-best-discovered-two-wheels?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:15:06 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela The Chinese have always been major consumers of international luxury brands, but it wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that the demand for domestic brands began to flourish. While fashion labels were among the first to benefit from this new wave, shoppers began to broaden their horizons, driving growth in unexpected categories including outerwear, jewellery, leather goods, footwear, and fragrance. “I believe this evolution is fundamentally driven by a cultural awakening and a growing sense of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3366620/songmont-bosideng-and-other-chinese-fashion-brands-taking-eastern-aesthetics-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3366620/songmont-bosideng-and-other-chinese-fashion-brands-taking-eastern-aesthetics-global?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China is leaning on its cultural heritage to jolt sluggish domestic spending, rolling out a push to modernise industries ranging from silk and tea to liquor, ceramics and traditional Chinese medicine. Authorities laid out plans to cultivate 50 leading enterprises in heritage industries, each with a scale of at least 10 billion yuan (US$1.49 billion), by 2028, according to a statement released on Monday by six government departments. “Many classic products are perceived as somewhat outdated and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3366634/china-unveils-plan-revamp-classic-products-bid-boost-sluggish-consumer-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3366634/china-unveils-plan-revamp-classic-products-bid-boost-sluggish-consumer-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon In Belgium, Clement Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old former car salesman, has recently been formally recognised as the son of Prince Laurent, the younger brother of the country’s king, Philippe. Vandenkerckhove was born out of wedlock when his mother, the Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten, and Prince Laurent had a relationship in the 1990s. A DNA test confirmed the paternity, and a private ceremony earlier this year made Vandenkerckhove a prince of Belgium and gave him rights to his father’s private... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3366074/prison-and-poverty-chinese-emperor-rags-riches-tale-liu-bingyi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3366074/prison-and-poverty-chinese-emperor-rags-riches-tale-liu-bingyi?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis While Western exploitation films of the 1960s and 70s – gory, sex-crazed shockers such as Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Blood Feast (1963) and Russ Meyer’s Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) – were largely confined to low-rent drive-in cinemas, Hong Kong took a decidedly different approach. The introduction of the Category III rating in 1988 gave rise to an adults-only genre that did not just lurk in the underground – it conquered the mainstream. Although local martial arts films had been marketed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3365830/how-hong-kongs-category-iii-adult-films-made-sex-and-gore-mainstream-1990s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3365830/how-hong-kongs-category-iii-adult-films-made-sex-and-gore-mainstream-1990s?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse From a distance, the Shaolin Temple outside Lusaka appears almost like a mirage, a slice of central China dropped into the Zambian landscape. Then the dragons emerge from beneath the pagoda, their brightly coloured fabric bodies hoisted on poles by teenagers moving with surprising precision. Nearby, smaller children tumble across a weather-beaten foam mattress, twisting into barrels and forward rolls as 30-year-old instructor Yan Chen barks commands. The sprawling complex houses Africa’s first... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3365960/how-africas-first-shaolin-temple-shares-chinese-martial-arts-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3365960/how-africas-first-shaolin-temple-shares-chinese-martial-arts-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Ha zi mein, or dried shrimp roe noodles, are a Cantonese household staple. Traditionally made from broth-infused dough that is steamed and then immediately baked dry to eliminate moisture, the noodles release the broth when boiled, turning the hot water into a rich, nutritious soup. As mass-produced versions dominate supermarket shelves, the artisanal craft of making ha zi mein – which is listed as part of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage – is becoming increasingly rare. But Wing Lok... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366056/how-hong-kong-maker-authentic-shrimp-roe-noodles-leading-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366056/how-hong-kong-maker-authentic-shrimp-roe-noodles-leading-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:15:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam When you think of mooncakes, the ones that come to mind tend to be the classic sweet lotus paste versions with salted egg yolk, or maybe a more modern interpretation like one with a salty-sweet baked custard filling. Historically, however, the first mooncakes were made with a mix of nuts and seeds. The five-kernel (wuren) mooncake – filled with ingredients including walnuts, almonds and sesame seeds – was considered the height of sophistication from the 1950s to the 1970s. With traditional sweet... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3365921/what-are-five-kernel-mooncakes-history-protein-packed-mid-autumn-festival-treat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3365921/what-are-five-kernel-mooncakes-history-protein-packed-mid-autumn-festival-treat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:55:58 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong Modern simplified Chinese characters form a tightly connected network from just 514 basic components that evolved through a process similar to natural selection, according to researchers who say their findings could change how Chinese writing is taught. “Chinese characters evolve like living organisms,” lecturer Xie Yonghui of Shanghai Normal University said on August 24. The research into the evolution of Chinese writing over thousands of years, led by Huang Wei, of Beijing Language and Culture... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3365849/chinese-script-evolved-living-organism-driven-natural-selection-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3365849/chinese-script-evolved-living-organism-driven-natural-selection-study?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:05 +0000