https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/330798/feed Latest news, analysis, explainers and updates on policy announcements, corporate developments and investment opportunities focused on the Guangdong provincial capital under the Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative in southern China’s Pearl River Delta The coverage includes politics and policies, business, lifestyle and culture and useful to-do guides about living, working and studying in the GBA. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Caroline Lin,Eve Qiao Caroline Lin,Eve Qiao German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has begun his state visit to China in the eastern province of Anhui, spotlighting a growing trend among visiting foreign leaders to look well beyond Beijing. Steinmeier arrived in the provincial capital Hefei early on Tuesday to begin a five-day state visit, marking his first trip to China in nearly eight years and confirming an exclusive report by the South China Morning Post earlier this month. When foreign dignitaries bypass Beijing for provincial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372340/german-leaders-china-visit-latest-sign-foreign-diplomacy-pivot-beyond-beijing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372340/german-leaders-china-visit-latest-sign-foreign-diplomacy-pivot-beyond-beijing Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:17:05 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang A randomised phase one clinical trial conducted by scientists and doctors from Shanghai and Guangzhou has achieved encouraging results in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes using stem cells extracted from gum tissue. More than half of those who received the treatment showed varying degrees of improvement, while one subject was able to discontinue exogenous insulin therapy completely, the researchers said. Results of the study, which tested a therapy based on gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC),... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3372256/china-trial-shows-gum-tissue-stem-cells-help-55-lifetime-diabetes-patients https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3372256/china-trial-shows-gum-tissue-stem-cells-help-55-lifetime-diabetes-patients Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China has granted new autonomous-driving permission to electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng and a mainland joint venture of Volkswagen, intensifying the commercialisation race between China’s autonomous driving firms and US company Tesla. Xpeng would now be allowed to conduct “demonstration operations” of its Yoyo driverless taxis in the capital city of southern China’s Guangdong province under a licence officially granted recently, the company said on social media on Monday. The licence, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3372153/china-grants-permits-vw-joint-venture-xpeng-autonomous-driving-race-intensifies https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3372153/china-grants-permits-vw-joint-venture-xpeng-autonomous-driving-race-intensifies Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung’s ex-husband lived an affluent lifestyle in mainland China allegedly funded by the model’s money and borrowed a car used to move equipment involved in her killing, a court has heard. The High Court heard on Monday that Alex Kwong Kong-chi used his former partner’s digital wallets to cover his expenses in Guangzhou while evading justice for his role in a HK$6.3 million theft case in 2015. The 31-year-old is standing trial alongside his father, Kwong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3372205/abby-chois-ex-husband-used-socialites-money-live-lavishly-mainland-court https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3372205/abby-chois-ex-husband-used-socialites-money-live-lavishly-mainland-court Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:19:03 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng From drone lasers to lightweight exoskeletons, Chinese manufacturers used the country’s biggest trade fair to showcase a new wave of hi-tech, and sometimes quirky, hardware to global buyers this week. The vast range of next-generation devices – often on offer at surprisingly affordable prices – is the product of a relentless innovation drive under way in China, as firms plough funds into research and development to cope with intense competition at home and rising trade barriers overseas. The R&D... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371954/exoskeletons-anyone-china-showcases-next-gen-technology-annual-trade-fair https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371954/exoskeletons-anyone-china-showcases-next-gen-technology-annual-trade-fair Mon, 26 Oct 2026 03:00:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial First came the cars; now come the yachts. When five Guangdong-registered vessels sailed into Hong Kong waters recently to mark the launch of the southbound yacht travel scheme, they completed a two-way maritime link that began with the northbound arrangement for Hong Kong yachts in June. The southbound scheme deserves a warm welcome. It opens a promising channel of high-value visits as the city searches for fresh sources of growth. Each widening of the door to the rest of the Greater Bay Area... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3372049/hong-kong-must-ensure-mainland-yachts-are-welcome https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3372049/hong-kong-must-ensure-mainland-yachts-are-welcome Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng For Guangzhou resident Claire Kou, this autumn brought a welcome surprise: “hairy crab freedom”, the ability to enjoy the beloved Chinese delicacy without worrying about its traditionally high price tag. During the National Day holiday earlier this month, Kou ordered four female hairy crabs, each weighing about 100 grams (3.5 ounces), via an online grocery platform for just 70 yuan (US$10.5). Female crabs are often considered desirable because they carry a lot of bright reddish-orange roe,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371598/hairy-crab-freedom-chinese-delicacys-price-tag-drops-amid-high-output-weakened-demand https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371598/hairy-crab-freedom-chinese-delicacys-price-tag-drops-amid-high-output-weakened-demand Sun, 25 Oct 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong is significantly lagging behind its neighbours and ranks near the bottom in meeting the growing demand for artificial intelligence supply chains, according to a major index evaluating key developments across the Greater Bay Area. The finding is part of the Greater Bay Area Industry Development Index 2026, jointly released on Thursday by think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation and Dah Sing Bank. The index evaluated the performance of the 11 cities in the bay area in key sectors including... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371821/hong-kong-badly-lags-peers-greater-bay-area-ai-supply-chains https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371821/hong-kong-badly-lags-peers-greater-bay-area-ai-supply-chains Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:11:43 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the fifth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here to view the other factsheets. The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 26. You can find the newspaper at newsstands and convenience stores. For inquiries, contact printsupport@scmp.com. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371704/hong-kongs-bay-area-vision https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371704/hong-kongs-bay-area-vision Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:30:29 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang China plans to expand venture capital and long-term funding for technology companies in the Greater Bay Area while strengthening financial links between Hong Kong and the mainland, as part of efforts to turn the region into a leading innovation hub alongside Beijing and Shanghai. In guidelines published on Monday, the People’s Bank of China and 10 other government departments set out plans for “an open technology finance system” across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371503/can-china-unlock-greater-bay-areas-tech-potential-through-closer-financial-links https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371503/can-china-unlock-greater-bay-areas-tech-potential-through-closer-financial-links Wed, 21 Oct 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. A subtle shift is taking place among Chinese businesses as they adopt a “China plus one” outlook and redirect domestic investments to neighbouring economies – a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371529/poster-child-why-more-chinese-firms-have-thailand-their-expansion-plans https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371529/poster-child-why-more-chinese-firms-have-thailand-their-expansion-plans Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:00:05 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A second unusual Chinese vessel suspected of being designed to launch and recover large underwater drones has appeared in Guangzhou, raising questions over whether Beijing is developing a fleet of specialised motherships to extend its undersea operations beyond coastal waters. The smaller vessel, seen under tow on the Pearl River in images circulating online, resembles a ship about 200 metres (660 feet) long seen at a Shanghai shipyard last month that has since been launched. Both feature... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371390/china-building-fleet-drone-motherships-extend-its-naval-reach https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371390/china-building-fleet-drone-motherships-extend-its-naval-reach Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Global attention will turn to Hong Kong this week as about 500 senior officials and delegates from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s 21 members gather in the city for the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is the first time Hong Kong has hosted the meeting, with Beijing’s support, as mainland China prepares to host the Apec leaders’ summit in Shenzhen next month. Hong Kong joined Apec in 1991 and has continued to take part in the economic forum’s affairs under the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371408/apec-hong-kong-what-know-500-delegates-descend-city https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371408/apec-hong-kong-what-know-500-delegates-descend-city Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:13:31 +0000 Chong Ming Lee,Mandy Zuo Chong Ming Lee,Mandy Zuo When artificial intelligence agents first arrived, they came with a tantalising promise: autonomous “digital workers” that would finally free humans from corporate drudgery. As businesses across Asia are discovering, however, the reality is quite the opposite – more work, new friction and a whole new layer of management. When Xiao Mengjie, an AI product marketing manager at a Big Tech firm in Shanghai, recently assigned two AI agents what she described as a simple task, she expected efficiency.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371246/ai-promise-was-automation-reality-managing-digital-workers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371246/ai-promise-was-automation-reality-managing-digital-workers Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has completed the first cross-border trading of green products under two separate pilot programmes with exchanges in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, according to an executive. The exchange’s Core Climate platform has enabled 15 companies, including Airport Authority, China Power International Development, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and others, to purchase Green Electricity Certificates (GECs) through the Guangzhou Power Exchange Centre with a total volume of about... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/climate-and-energy/article/3370720/hong-kong-completes-pilot-schemes-trade-green-products-exchanges-mainland-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/climate-and-energy/article/3370720/hong-kong-completes-pilot-schemes-trade-green-products-exchanges-mainland-china Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple executive chairman Tim Cook has begun his third visit to China this year, following the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro line-up and the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable device, in one of its biggest markets. Cook met Meng Fanli, governor of the southern province of Guangdong, on Sunday and said Apple was willing to expand its presence, including in smart manufacturing and sales channels. As an important manufacturing powerhouse, Guangdong had been essential to Apple’s growth in China,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3370500/apples-tim-cook-kicks-china-visit-amid-mixed-signals-new-iphone-demand https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3370500/apples-tim-cook-kicks-china-visit-amid-mixed-signals-new-iphone-demand Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Groundbreaking land-renewal policies recently announced in Guangzhou and Shanghai represent a step forward in stabilising China’s commercial property market and shoring up investors’ confidence amid Beijing’s efforts to revive the real estate industry, according to officials and industry analysts. The new rules governing the leasing of land for commercial and industrial use will also facilitate the issuance of exchange-traded real estate investment trusts (Reits), a financing tool that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370350/clock-ticks-chinas-commercial-land-leases-renewal-plans-allay-investors-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370350/clock-ticks-chinas-commercial-land-leases-renewal-plans-allay-investors-concerns Sun, 11 Oct 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Betty Lan Betty Lan At Shenzhen’s The Bay by Chef Fei, a dish of fish simmered with bamboo shoots in plum juice and pickled vegetables is plated individually and served to diners one by one. At Chiu Tang in Hong Kong, diners sit at round tables, share stories, sip oolong tea and reach for morsels from communal dishes. As Chaoshan cuisine, traditionally rooted in coastal neighbourhoods and late-night street food stalls, moves into luxury restaurants and is reimagined through French-style tasting menus and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3370267/what-authentic-chaoshan-cuisine-3-top-chefs-across-guangdong-may-have-agree-disagree https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3370267/what-authentic-chaoshan-cuisine-3-top-chefs-across-guangdong-may-have-agree-disagree Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A railway station in Guangzhou has set a national record for trips in a single day and drawn attention for the frequency of bullet train departures – one every 40 seconds – during this month’s holiday period, according to the Guangdong provincial government. Guangzhou South Railway Station handled 1,252 train services and just over 1 million trips on October 1, the start of the seven-day National Day holiday across mainland China, the publicity department of the province’s Communist Party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369883/train-every-40-seconds-how-chinese-rail-station-handled-record-1-million-trips-day https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369883/train-every-40-seconds-how-chinese-rail-station-handled-record-1-million-trips-day Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:39:41 +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 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3369654/chinese-art-takes-long-march-home-us-museums Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu A complete supply-side transformation of China’s housing market is likely to take precedence over any immediate revival in homebuyer demand following Wuhan’s overhaul of new-home sales, according to property analysts. Wuhan, capital of the central Chinese province of Hubei, is the fourth major economic hub – after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou – to encourage a broader transition towards completed-home sales. “These measures do not directly stimulate demand, but they will drive a structural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/property/article/3369596/wuhan-joins-major-chinese-cities-shift-towards-completed-home-sales https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/property/article/3369596/wuhan-joins-major-chinese-cities-shift-towards-completed-home-sales Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen During a recent reporting trip to the economic backwater of Nanning, the capital of southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the Pinglu Canal and US tech titan Apple’s latest product launch were on nearly everyone’s lips. The canal, which was officially opened on September 16, was built to make Guangxi a maritime logistics gateway for landlocked provinces in southwestern China and a nexus for trade with Southeast Asia. But many Nanning residents are not sure they will feel any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369604/reporters-notebook-can-canal-connection-give-lift-economic-backwater https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369604/reporters-notebook-can-canal-connection-give-lift-economic-backwater Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:00:08 +0000 P.Ramakrishnan P.Ramakrishnan Tsui Ao-lung did not walk a conventional path to becoming Hong Kong’s newest fashion-design champion. He has no formal training in garment design and he spent three years away from the industry altogether, earning an income moving cargo at the Hong Kong International Airport and waiting restaurant tables to pay off debts from a T-shirt brand he had co-founded. When he finally returned to the craft last year, it was almost by accident: a stylist had asked him to create stage outfits for a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/native/topics/ydc-2026/article/3369034/tsui-ao-lungs-journey-airport-worker-hong-kong-fashion-champion https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/native/topics/ydc-2026/article/3369034/tsui-ao-lungs-journey-airport-worker-hong-kong-fashion-champion Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:00:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Around 150 Chinese language teachers in the Philippines are returning home following mounting criticism from Philippine security officials that educational exchanges involving China could pose national security threats. The withdrawal affects teachers stationed at schools including the Immaculate Conception Academy in Greenhills and Jubilee Christian Academy in Quezon City, both in Metro Manila, according to local media. The Manila-based Chinese Commercial News reported on Friday that the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369601/chinese-language-teachers-leave-philippines-over-safety-fears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369601/chinese-language-teachers-leave-philippines-over-safety-fears Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:16:21 +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 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3369211/hong-kong-guangdong-exploring-rich-tapestry-cantonese-culinary-traditions Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese chip foundry CanSemi Technology’s Shenzhen initial public offering (IPO) is emerging as one of mainland China’s most sought-after tech listings this year, as investors bet on its push into silicon photonics and its role in domestic artificial intelligence infrastructure. The Guangzhou-based company’s retail tranche was oversubscribed by more than 2,300 times after clawback, according to a stock exchange filing late on Sunday, as investors scrambled for a piece of the domestic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3369074/chinese-chip-foundry-cansemis-ipo-oversubscribed-2360-times-investors-chase-ai-boom https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3369074/chinese-chip-foundry-cansemis-ipo-oversubscribed-2360-times-investors-chase-ai-boom Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:30:11 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao US contract chipmaker GlobalFoundries sees robust demand for Chinese optical modules amid the data centre construction boom, as the firm expands its presence in China to better serve its domestic clients. Shankaran Janardhanan, senior vice-president of the firm’s photonics and radio frequency division, told the South China Morning Post in an interview that demand in the optical networking module segment was “strong”. The surging appetite for Chinese optical modules – used to transmit data in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368817/globalfoundries-sees-strong-demand-chinese-optical-modules-amid-data-centre-boom https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368817/globalfoundries-sees-strong-demand-chinese-optical-modules-amid-data-centre-boom Sun, 27 Sep 2026 12:00:05 +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 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368747/mooncakes-dog-how-china-reinventing-its-iconic-festive-snack Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:00:26 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Foreign investors are starting to look again at mainland China’s commercial property market after years of retreat, drawn by sharply lower asset prices, wider yields and cheaper yuan financing, even though cross-border capital remains a small fraction of the overall market, analysts said. The shift did not yet amount to a broad return of foreign money, they added. Instead, some international investors were finding ways to participate through China’s domestic capital markets, using onshore... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/property/hong-kong-china/article/3368521/how-chinas-growing-reit-sector-giving-foreign-property-investors-route-back https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/property/hong-kong-china/article/3368521/how-chinas-growing-reit-sector-giving-foreign-property-investors-route-back Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Hong Kong sent four athletes to the Winter Olympics in February, its largest team ever, and 74 to the Asian Winter Games in Harbin the year before, also a record. Neither delegation contained a snowboarder, however – and the old explanation no longer holds. Guangzhou now has a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3368226/hong-kong-can-provide-its-snowboarders-route-success https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3368226/hong-kong-can-provide-its-snowboarders-route-success Tue, 22 Sep 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese consumers are demanding more variety from the drinks sections in their local stores, and Swire Coca-Cola is employing robots to help quench this increasingly diversified thirst. The company began using a robotic system for order picking this month in a factory in Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan province, where it has invested 900 million yuan (US$134.3 million). “China is a growth market, and consumer habits are changing,” said Peter Mills, chief supply chain officer of Swire... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368217/swire-coca-cola-gets-robots-heavy-lifting-satisfying-chinese-consumers-thirst https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368217/swire-coca-cola-gets-robots-heavy-lifting-satisfying-chinese-consumers-thirst Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:00:05 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin China can learn from US immigration strategies to attract foreign talent and stay competitive in the intensifying global tech race, a Chinese public policy analyst has said. Li Mingbo, deputy dean of the Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area (GIG), said China must be more efficient in promoting its new K visas for young science and technology specialists from overseas, noting that the country lacked an immigration system tailored for hi-tech talent. “Although the US has tightened its visa... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367534/china-needs-us-style-immigration-policy-win-tech-rivalry-washington-expert https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367534/china-needs-us-style-immigration-policy-win-tech-rivalry-washington-expert Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:04:32 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau A southbound scheme allowing Guangdong-registered yachts to sail in Hong Kong waters is expected to launch in October, the transport minister has said, with the city continuing preparations and discussions with provincial authorities. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan revealed the plan on Saturday after the annual policy address and the city’s first five-year plan, both unveiled this week, set out proposals to develop the yacht economy. “The southbound travel scheme for yachts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368098/hong-kong-open-waters-guangdong-yachts-under-southbound-scheme-october https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368098/hong-kong-open-waters-guangdong-yachts-under-southbound-scheme-october Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:15:03 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China launches Pinglu Canal, slashing transit time to Southeast Asia China officially opened its landmark Pinglu Canal to navigation on Wednesday, creating a new maritime gateway for the country’s southwestern hinterland and providing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3367930/china-launches-pinglu-canal-hong-kong-unveils-first-5-year-plan-scmps-7-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3367930/china-launches-pinglu-canal-hong-kong-unveils-first-5-year-plan-scmps-7-highlights Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The opening of China’s first new river-to-sea canal since 1949 – which will boost trade links with Southeast Asia – could transform the economy of the country’s landlocked southwestern interior in ways comparable to the Yangtze’s role in Shanghai’s rise, according to its operator. The 134.2km (83.4 mile) Pinglu Canal, which opened on Wednesday, links a major tributary of the Pearl River in the southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region with the Gulf of Tonkin, known as the Beibu Gulf in China,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367901/can-new-pinglu-canal-become-chinas-yangtze-southwest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367901/can-new-pinglu-canal-become-chinas-yangtze-southwest Fri, 18 Sep 2026 03:00:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Among the world’s most connected airports, Guangzhou’s hub has posted the fastest rise through the latest rankings, according to an annual list compiled by aviation data firm OAG. And overall, Chinese hubs stood out as carriers expanded their international networks with added flights. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China jumped to 19th place, from 36th last year, in OAG’s Megahubs 2026 report, released on Wednesday. An OAG spokeswoman called its jump the biggest of any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367718/china-airports-climb-global-connectivity-ranking-international-routes-rise-oag-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367718/china-airports-climb-global-connectivity-ranking-international-routes-rise-oag-report Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang China officially opened its landmark Pinglu Canal to navigation on Wednesday, creating a new maritime gateway for the country’s southwestern hinterland and providing a shorter route to Southeast Asia as Beijing seeks to deepen trade with the region. The 134.2km (83.4 mile) waterway links Nanning, the capital of the southern region of Guangxi, to the Gulf of Tonkin, known as the Beibu Gulf in China, allowing cargo from inland provinces to reach the sea without taking a roughly 560km detour via... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364504/china-launches-new-canal-first-its-kind-1949-giving-inland-access-sea-lanes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364504/china-launches-new-canal-first-its-kind-1949-giving-inland-access-sea-lanes Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:28:59 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu Wealth management provider Wrise Prestige is stepping up its investment in artificial intelligence technology as the firm looks to expand its footprint on the Chinese mainland and power its next phase of growth. The Singapore-headquartered firm planned to open an AI laboratory in Guangzhou next month to house its technology team, following a HK$30 million internal investment in AI-related development, senior executives said during a media briefing marking the company’s second anniversary in Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3367615/wrise-prestige-accelerates-mainland-china-expansion-new-offices-ai-lab https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3367615/wrise-prestige-accelerates-mainland-china-expansion-new-offices-ai-lab Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:09:14 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Two Chinese state-owned carmakers, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) and FAW Group, are weighing a restructuring that could integrate their joint venture operations with Japanese giant Toyota, industry insiders say, following Beijing’s call for consolidation amid weakening domestic demand. GAC planned to acquire part of FAW’s equity in a joint venture vehicle manufacturer through a share issuance and raise supporting funds, the Guangzhou-based carmaker said in an exchange filing on Monday night,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3367538/gac-shares-jump-faw-tie-plans-amid-beijing-drive-car-industry-mergers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3367538/gac-shares-jump-faw-tie-plans-amid-beijing-drive-car-industry-mergers Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:26 +0000 Olga Wong,Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Olga Wong,Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s coming policy address will introduce measures to remove hurdles for businesses setting up shop in the Northern Metropolis and include proactive initiatives to strengthen innovation hubs, research efforts and tech applications, the South China Morning Post has learned. Government sources said measures supporting the megaproject in the northern New Territories and backing innovation were expected to be major highlights of the chief executive’s policy address on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367502/hong-kongs-next-policy-address-just-around-corner-heres-what-expect https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367502/hong-kongs-next-policy-address-just-around-corner-heres-what-expect Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Police in Guangzhou said on Monday they had apprehended a man in the southern Chinese city’s university town district after receiving reports that he was wielding a knife and injuring pedestrians. Emergency services started receiving calls around 5.20pm local time about multiple stabbings in front of a hotpot restaurant in the Xiaoguwei Island area of Panyu district, according to an alert sent out by the district branch of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau. The bureau said in a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367491/chinese-knife-attack-leaves-multiple-people-injured-guangzhou https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367491/chinese-knife-attack-leaves-multiple-people-injured-guangzhou Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:26:49 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A woman convicted of using a forged reference letter to gain admission to a Hong Kong doctoral programme has been spared jail and ordered to perform 160 hours of community service. Fanling Magistrate Kenneth Chan Ping-chau said on Monday that he had decided to “make an exception” for 31-year-old Li Zuer, who earlier admitted falsely claiming that a former teaching staff member at the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) had written a reference letter for her in March 2024. The letter... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3367423/woman-spared-jail-over-forging-phd-reference-letter-education-university https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3367423/woman-spared-jail-over-forging-phd-reference-letter-education-university Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:04:09 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Veteran Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Simon Loui Yu-yeung, better known to fans as the “King of Ghosts” for his prolific work in horror films, has died at the age of 62. Long-time friend and fellow actor Frankie Ng Chi-hung revealed to reporters on Friday that Loui’s wife, TV and radio personality Ma Li, had confirmed the filmmaker had died in a hospital in Guangzhou on Monday after losing his battle with gastric cancer. “The family hoped to stay low profile. There was no big announcement,” Ng... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367244/rest-eternal-peace-veteran-horror-actor-filmmaker-simon-loui-dies-age-62 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367244/rest-eternal-peace-veteran-horror-actor-filmmaker-simon-loui-dies-age-62 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:21:11 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Most of the gold jewellery shops that once lined the main commercial street in Biyang, Henan province, have closed as gold prices hover at high but volatile levels and a decline in marriages dents demand. “Gold jewellery used to be very popular in our small county,” said 25-year-old kindergarten teacher Yu Qian, who described herself as a frequent buyer of gold jewellery. “There used to be more than 20 gold shops operating here, but I’d estimate that over two-thirds of them have already closed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367009/jewellery-shops-shut-down-chinese-consumers-switch-focus-gold-bars-and-coins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367009/jewellery-shops-shut-down-chinese-consumers-switch-focus-gold-bars-and-coins Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:44:06 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung A cluster comprising Hong Kong and two mainland Chinese cities has been ranked the world’s top innovation hub for the second consecutive year by a United Nations body. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster retained its crown in the 2026 Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization on Tuesday. Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Seoul and Beijing followed in the rankings. A government spokesman welcomed the ranking, saying it reaffirmed the Greater Bay... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366805/shenzhen-hong-kong-guangzhou-retains-crown-worlds-top-innovation-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366805/shenzhen-hong-kong-guangzhou-retains-crown-worlds-top-innovation-hub Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:41:48 +0000 Edith Lin,Eric Jiang Edith Lin,Eric Jiang At least 15 high-speed cross-border train services were delayed in Hong Kong after a signalling fault prompted a 45-minute disruption of northbound journeys on Sunday morning. The Transport Department said at around 8.30am that the MTR Corporation had notified authorities that high-speed rail services at the West Kowloon terminus of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link would be delayed due to a “signal fault”. At around 9.15am, the department said the MTR Corp had resolved the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3366514/signalling-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-high-speed-rail-service-delaying-15-trains https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3366514/signalling-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-high-speed-rail-service-delaying-15-trains Sun, 06 Sep 2026 02:35:28 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Yin Yue, a mother with a 15-year-old daughter, feels like after-school academic tutoring is everywhere again in Guangzhou, the city where she lives in southern China. Five years ago, China launched a sweeping crackdown that drove much of the industry out of sight. But prep centres had quietly begun popping up again in popular commercial areas across the city, said Yin, a pharmaceutical sales manager in her 40s. In Guangzhou’s shopping malls, these centres are now among the busiest tenants,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366381/5-years-after-sweeping-ban-chinas-tutoring-industry-still-bleeding-parents-dry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366381/5-years-after-sweeping-ban-chinas-tutoring-industry-still-bleeding-parents-dry Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hundreds of Hong Kong residents and visitors braved the heat on Saturday morning to visit a popular Sai Kung trail overlooking hexagonal rock columns, as a trial reservation system requiring real-name registration came into force, prompting some calls for easing restrictions. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced the arrangement last month, capping visitor numbers at 2,000 per designated day between 9am and 5pm for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366463/visitors-urge-hong-kong-ease-restrictions-sai-kung-trail-registration-begins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366463/visitors-urge-hong-kong-ease-restrictions-sai-kung-trail-registration-begins Sat, 05 Sep 2026 06:21:55 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen A new high-speed railway section connecting Beijing to Xiongan and central Chinese provinces is poised to begin operations this month, filling a missing link in the 2,370km (1,472-mile) train journey from the nation’s capital to Hong Kong. By enabling more direct connectivity and train services to and from Hong Kong for northern and central regions, China aims to inject fresh development impetus into the Greater Bay Area – an integrated economic hub linking several southern cities – and inland... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366422/how-chinas-new-railway-artery-bolsters-hong-kongs-ties-capital-central-heartland https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366422/how-chinas-new-railway-artery-bolsters-hong-kongs-ties-capital-central-heartland Sat, 05 Sep 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Alina Heng Alina Heng On a recent trip to China, I was on a rumbling subway train when I was struck by a strange sense of homecoming. It was as if I had been transported back to my childhood, and suddenly I was completely at home among all the strangers in the subway carriage – even though it was my very first time in Guangzhou. The funny thing is that nothing special happened on that ride. I just had a moment to observe my surroundings and realise how much my husband and I – both Chinese Singaporeans – resembled the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3365636/singaporean-guangzhou-wonders-why-do-i-feel-so-home-here https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3365636/singaporean-guangzhou-wonders-why-do-i-feel-so-home-here Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:30:06 +0000