https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/330289/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Marcelo Duhalde,Joe Lo,Seong Hyeon Choi,Catherine Ma Marcelo Duhalde,Joe Lo,Seong Hyeon Choi,Catherine Ma https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/infographics/china/military/article/3313870/how-chinas-rare-earth-leadership-can-impact-us-defense-procurement https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/infographics/china/military/article/3313870/how-chinas-rare-earth-leadership-can-impact-us-defense-procurement Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:08 +0000 Beijing has launched a public computing platform to support China’s artificial intelligence (AI) development at a time when the US is dialling up its export restrictions on advanced semiconductors critical to training and upscaling AI technologies. The Beijing AI Public Computing Platform, or Shangzhuang project, is operated by state-backed Beijing Energy Holding (BEH), with an aim to alleviate the “acute shortage of computing power” faced by the city’s tertiary institutions, research... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3246391/beijing-launches-state-backed-ai-platform-meet-countrys-rising-demand-computing-power https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3246391/beijing-launches-state-backed-ai-platform-meet-countrys-rising-demand-computing-power Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:00:18 +0000 China’s chip design industry is facing a sea of losses this year amid excess competition and a rush into the sector due to Beijing’s focus on greater self-sufficiency, a leading Chinese semiconductor industry expert warned. Wei Shaojun, president of integrated circuit (IC) design at the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA), told a forum in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province, on Friday that large swathes of the chip industry would end up in the red this year because of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3241136/china-chip-design-expert-warns-losses-due-industry-overcrowding-says-more-cautious-path-self https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3241136/china-chip-design-expert-warns-losses-due-industry-overcrowding-says-more-cautious-path-self Sun, 12 Nov 2023 02:00:26 +0000 For every five new jobs in artificial intelligence (AI) in China, there are only two qualified workers in the labour market, a sign of the serious shortage of talent in the hot sector, according to a newly published report. The surging demand is largely driven by increasing competition among Chinese Big Tech firms, including TikTok parent ByteDance, e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba Group Holding, video gaming giant Tencent Holdings and telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies, to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3240656/chinas-ai-talent-pool-limited-amid-surging-job-demand-triggered-chatgpt-race-report-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3240656/chinas-ai-talent-pool-limited-amid-surging-job-demand-triggered-chatgpt-race-report-finds Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:00:22 +0000 US streaming giant Hulu is downsizing its research and development (R&D) centre in Beijing, cutting around 200 people, or 90 per cent of the staff at the facility, according to people familiar with the matter. While Hulu’s streaming service is not available in China, the company set up the Beijing R&D centre in 2007, one year before it started streaming content in the US market. The employees at the Beijing facility are focused on developing online video playback technologies, as well as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3215415/us-streaming-giant-hulu-cuts-200-jobs-beijing-research-centre-tech-job-losses-widen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3215415/us-streaming-giant-hulu-cuts-200-jobs-beijing-research-centre-tech-job-losses-widen Thu, 30 Mar 2023 10:00:21 +0000 While stock markets are known to fluctuate in reaction to global events, it seems they also now respond to fashion choices. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sparked a financial fashion frenzy when he wore a US$1000 cobalt blue parka that sent the stock market soaring on Tuesday. Xi was wearing the coat while inspecting the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics site, and the images were splashed around news bulletins but barely caused a ripple on social media – because of the brand’s elite urban... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/style/xi-jinping-wears-parka-and-companys-stock-soars/article/3118864 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/style/xi-jinping-wears-parka-and-companys-stock-soars/article/3118864 Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:29:28 +0000 Beijing is a global city famous for its symbols of Chinese history, governance and culture. It is not, however, known for its connection to mother nature.  But those prejudices may not be entirely accurate, and young people across the city are discovering a fact about the city: it boasts a remarkable biodiversity, especially for birds.  Li Siqi is one of these young birding enthusiasts. The 20-year-old woman took up the hobby in 2013 after she, “took a photo of a pretty bird and then started... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/want-be-beijing-cool-try-bird-watching/article/3118679 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/want-be-beijing-cool-try-bird-watching/article/3118679 Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:01:05 +0000 Major cities in China are trying to lower the din on public transportation by introducing “quiet cars” or punishing people for using their phone speakers with no headphones on the subway.  In China, there are differences in opinion about whether or not being noisy in public should be regarded as impolite because it can be interpreted as a sign of vibrancy and energy.   But for large swaths of the younger generations, it is important to be quiet on public transportation to show respect to other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/china-trying-press-mute-noisy-public-transportation/article/3115681 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/china-trying-press-mute-noisy-public-transportation/article/3115681 Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:43:02 +0000 The Chinese capital has dealt a significant blow to Airbnb in the city by banning short-term stays in the city’s heart, saying they could create a security problem.  The ban affects the Dongcheng district, which includes famous tourist attractions like Tiananmen Square, Zhongshan Park and the Forbidden City. It also applies to the Xicheng district, a popular area for dining. A ban on short-term stays essentially kills the Airbnb business model in the areas.  Beijing said criminal networks and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/want-tour-beijing-airbnb-may-not-be-feasible-option/article/3115695 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/want-tour-beijing-airbnb-may-not-be-feasible-option/article/3115695 Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:42:59 +0000 Hundreds of Chinese parents took to the streets in Beijing on Monday to demand a refund from an education company they feared was about to join a wave of business closures, highlighting the economic stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In a rare display of anger at the heart of the Chinese capital, the demonstrators gathered outside an office building and demanded that Youwin, an afterschool tutoring company, return their deposits. They eventually spilled into the streets and blocked... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/rare-protest-beijing-puts-spotlight-industry-trouble/article/3106436 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/rare-protest-beijing-puts-spotlight-industry-trouble/article/3106436 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:37:08 +0000 Every Tuesday and Thursday, China Trends takes the pulse of the Chinese social media to keep you in the loop of what the world’s biggest internet population is talking about. Xue Hua Piao Piao Bei Feng Xiao Xiao Who would have thought that a song from 1983 would go viral in 2020? That is the case for “Yi Jian Me” (one plum blossom), performed by Fei Yu-ching.  Specifically, it is the line “Xue Hua Piao Piao Bei Feng Xiao Xiao” that has become fodder for short videos on social media. The lyrics... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/china-trends-1980s-chinese-song-goes-viral-and-beijing-coronavirus-lockdown/article/3089549 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/china-trends-1980s-chinese-song-goes-viral-and-beijing-coronavirus-lockdown/article/3089549 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 07:58:31 +0000 Every Tuesday and Thursday, Inkstone Explains unravels the ideas and context behind the headlines to help you understand news about China. Imagine growing up in rural America, dreaming of leaving the drudgery of small-town suburbia to pursue the glitz and glamor of the big city. Then imagine that a special registration system, required at birth, would issue a document that results in a life spent on the fringes of the concrete jungle. This theoretical document wouldn’t be much of a roadblock for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/inkstone-explains-how-china-uses-hukou-system-manage-internal-migration/article/3086597 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/inkstone-explains-how-china-uses-hukou-system-manage-internal-migration/article/3086597 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 02:38:00 +0000 A controversial national security law concerning Hong Kong is expected to be on the agenda as China’s rubber-stamp legislative body, the National People’s Congress, began its most important annual meeting on Friday.  The law would ban all seditious activities aimed at toppling the central government and external interference in the city’s affairs, as well as target terrorist acts in Hong Kong. Beijing’s plan to make the law was announced less than a year after a proposal to allow extraditions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/politics/chinas-security-law-hong-kong-what-you-need-know/article/3085668 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/politics/chinas-security-law-hong-kong-what-you-need-know/article/3085668 Fri, 22 May 2020 11:47:53 +0000 About 100 years ago, a Canadian photographer wandered around Beijing to record life in China’s capital city. Now, a Chinese game developer has given this old, grainy video a facelift using AI technology. The rare black-and-white footage captured a time when people still traveled on camels and rickshaws, and men wore their hair in long braids in the back. DGSpitzer said on the Chinese streaming app Bilibili that he combined several AI tools to bring history back to life. (Read more: Nostalgic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/ai-old-beijing-video-color/article/3084049 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/ai-old-beijing-video-color/article/3084049 Tue, 12 May 2020 11:26:13 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS About 100 years ago, a Canadian photographer wandered around Beijing to record life in China’s capital city. The rare black-and-white footage captured a time when people still travelled on camels and rickshaws, and men wore their hair in long braids in the back. Now a Chinese indie game developer has given this old, grainy video a facelift using AI technology. DGSpitzer said on Bilibili that he combined several AI tools to bring history back to life.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/abacus/tech/article/3083852/ai-brings-color-100-year-old-video-old-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/abacus/tech/article/3083852/ai-brings-color-100-year-old-video-old-beijing Mon, 11 May 2020 10:00:17 +0000 About 100 years ago, a Canadian photographer wandered around Beijing to record life in China’s capital city. The rare black-and-white footage captured a time when people still travelled on camels and rickshaws, and men wore their hair in long braids in the back. Now a Chinese indie game developer has given this old, grainy video a facelift using AI technology. DGSpitzer said on Bilibili that he combined several AI tools to bring history back to life. DeOldify, a machine learning system, was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/ai-brings-color-100-year-old-video-old-beijing/article/3083785 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/ai-brings-color-100-year-old-video-old-beijing/article/3083785 Mon, 11 May 2020 10:00:14 +0000 Every time David Lin, a freelance videographer in Beijing, steps out of his apartment building, a security guard takes his temperature when he returns. Precautions like these can be found all over the Chinese capital, which is humming back to life after a months-long lockdown because of the coronavirus. As the number of new Covid-19 cases continues to fall in China, the country is slowly lifting restrictions on movement. On Friday, Beijing’s Forbidden City reopened to visitors after it was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/videos/life-after-coronavirus/article/3082783 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/videos/life-after-coronavirus/article/3082783 Mon, 04 May 2020 09:41:26 +0000 “I really don’t think Beijing is a food paradise,” says longtime resident Carla Zhang. It’s an odd thing for a self-described foodie to admit, that the city in which she lives is not particularly made for connoisseurs of taste. She’s right. Beijing food is not particularly refined or photogenic. It’s heavy on offal and wheat-products like noodles and buns. But where it lacks in refinement, it makes up for in heartiness. “After you eat, you feel full and satisfied,” she says. “It’s a very... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/beijing-food-tour/article/3079030 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/beijing-food-tour/article/3079030 Wed, 08 Apr 2020 10:32:37 +0000 Heavy snow piled up in Beijing this week. With people told to stay indoors to contain the coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese capital turned into an eerily quiet place blanketed in white. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/heavy-snow-falls-unusually-quiet-chinese-capital-beijing/article/3049463 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/heavy-snow-falls-unusually-quiet-chinese-capital-beijing/article/3049463 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 11:51:17 +0000 Living abroad can be a life of romance, personal growth and exciting opportunities. Or it can be a nightmare of expensive rent, culture shock and loneliness.  But if you are to take the plunge, Asian cities could be your best bets, according to a recent survey. Four of the top five of the world’s best cities for expatriates to live are in Asia, according to the survey of more than 20,000 expatriates. Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, topped the chart for the second year in a row. Malaysia’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/best-and-worst-asia-cities-expats-live-and-work/article/3040783 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/best-and-worst-asia-cities-expats-live-and-work/article/3040783 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 10:39:50 +0000 “You might not have to make that trip to the bank after all,” Rob, a friend, messaged me over WeChat the other day. He attached a press release saying Alipay had launched an international version of its mobile payments platform for visitors to China. Named “Tour Pass,” the app can be used for up to 90 days and could prove handy for me, as I had moved from Hong Kong to Beijing for three months just over a month ago. The last time I lived in Beijing, five years ago while studying at Peking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/alipay-and-wechat-pay-open-mobile-payments-foreigners-access-functions-limited/article/3040369 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/alipay-and-wechat-pay-open-mobile-payments-foreigners-access-functions-limited/article/3040369 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:34:38 +0000 Beijing motorists desperate to use their cars are resorting to sham marriages to get around strict license plate rules. The rules are designed to limit the number of vehicles allowed on the city’s congested roads. Some drivers were willing to pay the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars to marry someone with one of the prized plates, according to CCTV. They then have the license transferred to their name before getting a divorce. Specialist agencies charge over $20,000 to help clients use... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/beijing-license-restrictions-has-people-resorting-fake-marriages-drive-roads/article/3039364 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/beijing-license-restrictions-has-people-resorting-fake-marriages-drive-roads/article/3039364 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 09:11:36 +0000 The Chinese government has tried to brush aside a historic election win by Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp by downplaying the results in news reports and preventing internet users from talking about it.  Pro-Beijing politicians suffered a bitter defeat in Sunday’s district council elections, losing most of the seats they previously held to rivals who campaigned on their support for the monthslong anti-government protests. About 57% of the voters backed pro-democracy candidates, most of whom... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/politics/chinese-state-media-downplayed-pro-democracy-win-hong-kong-district-election/article/3039397 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/politics/chinese-state-media-downplayed-pro-democracy-win-hong-kong-district-election/article/3039397 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 09:11:35 +0000 The newly-opened Leeza SOHO is located in Beijing’s Fengtai business district and has set the record for “world’s tallest atrium.” The stunning building was designed by Zaha Hadid before her death in 2016. She was one of the great architecture talents of our time. Take a photo-gallery tour of this beautiful building. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/highly-anticipated-leeza-soho-beijing-boasts-worlds-tallest-atrium/article/3038693 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/highly-anticipated-leeza-soho-beijing-boasts-worlds-tallest-atrium/article/3038693 Thu, 21 Nov 2019 10:39:10 +0000 If your beloved furry friend goes missing in China, hiring a pet detective is now a way to increase your chances of a happy reunion. Equipped with hi-tech investigative tools, Shanghai-based private sleuth Sun Jinrong is handling cases across the country.  In about seven years of pet detecting, he has found about 1,000 wayward animals and claims a success rate of 60-70%. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/science/pet-detectives-china-use-high-tech-tools-find-lost-pets/article/3038518 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/science/pet-detectives-china-use-high-tech-tools-find-lost-pets/article/3038518 Wed, 20 Nov 2019 10:36:47 +0000 Facebook said on Tuesday that it would step up efforts to counter disinformation and state-backed influence operations ahead of the Taiwanese presidential election in January. While it does not control the self-ruled island, Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has sought its return to the mainland fold.  Taiwan’s authorities have reported an average of 30 million cross-border cyberattacks each month this year, with a sizeable number from the Chinese mainland suspected of trying to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/politics/facebook-ramps-taiwan-election-fake-news-fight/article/3036717 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/politics/facebook-ramps-taiwan-election-fake-news-fight/article/3036717 Thu, 07 Nov 2019 12:02:35 +0000 For Beijing’s bookish English-speaking expatriate population, the Bookworm was more than a humble cafe full of reading material. It was a cultural destination, a place for live performances and a home away from home. But after being in business for nearly 20 years, its managers announced on Tuesday that the bookstore would close next week – to the shock of its current patrons and legions of former Beijingers around the world. “Despite our best efforts, we appear to have fallen prey to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/beijing-expats-mourn-closure-bookworm-cafe-and-bookstore/article/3036382 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/beijing-expats-mourn-closure-bookworm-cafe-and-bookstore/article/3036382 Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:39:16 +0000 When US venture capitalist Aileen Lee coined the term “unicorn” in 2013 to refer to privately-held startups worth more than $1 billion, San Francisco was leading the world with 15 of them.  “It’s really hard, and highly unlikely, to build or invest in a billion-dollar company,” Lee wrote in 2013. She said the odds of building one were more than 100 times tougher than getting into Stanford.  Now, Beijing, China’s capital, has 82 of those companies, making it the world’s top city for tech... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/beijing-has-more-unicorns-sf-and-ny-combined/article/3034070 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/beijing-has-more-unicorns-sf-and-ny-combined/article/3034070 Tue, 22 Oct 2019 10:53:35 +0000 Beijing, the capital of China, has been around for more than 3,000 years, and its food is as rich as its history. Located in northeastern China, the region is arid, so the cuisine is heavy on wheat and meat. Here, you’ll find a lot of meat-filled buns, grilled skewers, and protein-packed wraps. Street food in this city used to actually be sold on the street, but in recent years, the government has been cracking down on curbside vendors, citing food safety and cleanliness issues. Now, you can... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/best-beijing-street-food/article/3026553 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/best-beijing-street-food/article/3026553 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:32:05 +0000 In a quiet alleyway in Beijing, a lone DJ spins Cantonese pop songs from the 1980s. The discreet hutongs of China’s capital might seem like an unlikely place for Hong Kong’s homegrown genre of music, especially in light of antigovernment protests that have rocked the city. But Cantopop still has its fans in mainland China, especially among a generation that came of age with the music. Hong Kong’s “summer of discontent” has put Cantonese pop under greater scrutiny in mainland China, where some... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/beijing-underground-cantopop-hong-kong/article/3025360 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/beijing-underground-cantopop-hong-kong/article/3025360 Mon, 02 Sep 2019 08:18:28 +0000 Beijing has become the latest city in China looking to regulate undesirable behavior in public.  Authorities in the Chinese capital are drafting rules to crack down on what they deem to be uncivilized behavior, possibly with fines as a penalty. As part of a 20-day public consultation, officials have listed 19 behaviors in a survey in which residents can choose up to 10 behaviors they consider unacceptable and give feedback. The behaviors include exposing one’s torso in a style commonly called... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/beijing-looking-regulate-uncivilized-behavior/article/3021797 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/beijing-looking-regulate-uncivilized-behavior/article/3021797 Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:15:32 +0000 “I want people to know that traditional Chinese landscapes, still-life paintings, and portraits can also be tattoos,” says Beijing-based tattoo artist Chen Jie. Although still largely taboo, tattoos have become increasingly popular in China. And while styles from abroad such as old school and new school—characterized by hard lines and bold colors—were once the trend, a distinctly Chinese aesthetic, inspired by traditional watercolor paintings, is gaining ground. Chen is one of many tattoo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/chinese-watercolor-tattoo-artist/article/3021090 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/chinese-watercolor-tattoo-artist/article/3021090 Fri, 02 Aug 2019 13:03:28 +0000 When you think of surfing, China is hardly the first destination that comes to mind. Most cities are landlocked and have no access to the ocean. But there’s a growing number of indoor surf shops popping up across the country, inspired by the surfing centers of Los Angeles. At the Wavorhouse Urban Surf Club in Beijing, young people can be seen riding a 10-foot-high wave on a surf simulator in between drinking beer and chatting. Indoor stand-up surfing, or flowboarding, is quickly becoming... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/travel/beijing-china-indoor-surfing-flowboarding/article/3018865 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/travel/beijing-china-indoor-surfing-flowboarding/article/3018865 Tue, 16 Jul 2019 12:22:54 +0000 Summers in China are sweltering, especially in big cities, where temperatures can reach upwards of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. To cope, many men of a certain age resort to rolling up their shirts to just above their bellies—or opt for going topless altogether. They do it in public—on the streets, in parks, and even at work if the job involves outdoor labor. The boorish look has become a hallmark of the Chinese summer, so much so that it has an affectionate nickname: the Beijing bikini (though the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/beijing-bikini-chinese-government-cracks-down-men-baring-midriffs/article/3017379 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/beijing-bikini-chinese-government-cracks-down-men-baring-midriffs/article/3017379 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 05:41:21 +0000 Communal bathing at public bathhouses is a popular pastime among older men, particularly in northern China. Here, customers can laze around in warm pools, get a rubdown from staff, and wallow away the day for as little as $4. Some play Chinese chess, others watch cricket fights, and a few even bring along their pet birds. But the days of the traditional bathhouse are waning in China, as they’re eclipsed by pricier, more modern facilities that offer additional perks like karaoke, billiards, and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/travel/old-beijing-last-traditional-bathhouse/article/3014044 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/travel/old-beijing-last-traditional-bathhouse/article/3014044 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 10:26:34 +0000 Under a glass roof, groups of old men laze around two large pools, wallow in the warm baths, or relax under a row of shower heads. Some others, lying on their stomachs on benches, get a rubdown with damp towels. Communal bathing in traditional bathhouses like Shuang Xing Tang in Beijing is a popular custom among older men in China. Patrons can spend a whole day pampering themselves for a pittance. Centuries-old traditions fast disappearing in a rapidly modernizing China are also enjoyed here.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/traditional-bathhouses-and-communal-bathing-beijing-could-soon-be-thing-past/article/3012243 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/society/traditional-bathhouses-and-communal-bathing-beijing-could-soon-be-thing-past/article/3012243 Wed, 29 May 2019 10:30:52 +0000 Zhang Liqun started his roast duck restaurant in Beijing after he was laid off from a job back in 1991. His secret to making the best Peking duck? Selecting the right wood. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/secret-perfect-peking-duck-chefs-plate-ep-14/article/3000987 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/secret-perfect-peking-duck-chefs-plate-ep-14/article/3000987 Wed, 27 Feb 2019 12:49:19 +0000 The #10YearChallenge, where people post two pictures of themselves—one from today and one from a decade ago—to see how much they have (or haven’t) changed, has taken the internet by storm. Here at Goldthread, we thought it would be a fun experiment to apply the challenge to China, which has seen some dramatic changes in the past decade. In 2009, the country had just come off hosting the Summer Olympics. Its population was 1.3 billion, the iPhone 3G had just come out, and WeChat didn’t exist... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/we-did-10yearchallenge-5-chinese-cities/article/3000561 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/we-did-10yearchallenge-5-chinese-cities/article/3000561 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 16:03:04 +0000 Despite the Chinese government’s official disapproval of street art, graffiti is blooming in certain pockets of Beijing. Colorful, funky pieces have adorned the walls along Jingmi Road in the capital’s Chaoyang District for years, and Andy Chen claims to be the first person to have left his mark there in 2010. Chen and his collective, ABS, are among a handful of graffiti artists active in Beijing. Most of them do commercial work because unsanctioned art is often quickly scrubbed off by street... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/beijing-street-art/article/3000554 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/beijing-street-art/article/3000554 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:28:39 +0000 Illustrations by Joyce Siu In the 1960s, a typical office worker in Beijing might have had lunch with colleagues in the company cafeteria. They were drab places, often housed in the basements of buildings and with limited offerings. But after the market reforms that opened up China’s economy in the 1980s, white-collar workers began leaving their offices for lunch. They were part of the country’s budding private sector and enjoyed more freedom than their counterparts at state-owned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/what-beijingers-are-eating-lunch-its-not-all-beijing-food/article/3000182 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/what-beijingers-are-eating-lunch-its-not-all-beijing-food/article/3000182 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 03:31:13 +0000 Amelie Kang is co-founder of MáLà Project, a Sichuan-style restaurant in New York that’s introducing dry hot pot to the United States. Here, she introduces us to one of her favorite dishes from her childhood: zhajiang noodles (炸酱面). The dish is a northern Chinese classic that Kang’s grandmother used to make at home. It’s known for its rich minced pork and fermented soybean paste flavors. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/videos/zhajiang-noodles-chefs-plate-ep-7/article/3000181 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/videos/zhajiang-noodles-chefs-plate-ep-7/article/3000181 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 03:14:25 +0000 Depending on where you are in China, asking for the local noodle dish may get you a wildly different result each time. Ingredients, preparation style, and visual look vary from region to region, giving foodies something new to discover in each city. There’s nothing better than chowing down on this remarkably versatile dish, and learning how each region’s culture and tradition have shaped their favorite bowl. Here’s a primer on some of the most common noodle dishes you can find in China. Slurp’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/primer-noodle-dishes-you-need-eat-across-china/article/2159117 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/food/primer-noodle-dishes-you-need-eat-across-china/article/2159117 Tue, 14 Aug 2018 10:08:55 +0000 A heavily guarded block of flats, a dank and dark air raid shelter, an unused tattoo parlor opposite a Hooters bar—three contemporary art venues in Beijing. The sites are so unorthodox that they have become safe havens for artists in the Chinese capital to create and exchange ideas freely.  The three sites are owned by a Chinese businessman Peng Xiaoyang. In the winter of 2015, Peng opened DRC No. 12 inside a two-bedroom apartment, setting it up as an independent art space. It's located in one... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/one-guy-set-3-secretive-spots-beijing-offer-artists-safe-space-expression/article/2157862 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/culture/one-guy-set-3-secretive-spots-beijing-offer-artists-safe-space-expression/article/2157862 Wed, 01 Aug 2018 13:00:45 +0000 It was near midnight on a Saturday in a Beijing club, and Charlie Van De Ho (who declined to use his real name) was backstage, ready to make his drag debut in a few moments. Hair tucked, blonde wig clipped in place, Charlie jumped onto the stage when Rihanna’s "Pour It Up" started playing. He danced and twerked to the song in a pencil skirt, a tiny black bra and a pair of brown knee-high boots. “I was the third queen to perform,” Charlie told us on the phone after the show. “My song was meant to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/identity/becoming-charlie-beijing-first-time-drag-queen/article/2152041 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/identity/becoming-charlie-beijing-first-time-drag-queen/article/2152041 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 09:15:30 +0000