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Chinese culture

Assorted Chinese wedding cakes. Photo: May Tse

Why is there a cake voucher with your Chinese wedding invite? We explain

A cake voucher often accompanies an invitation to a Chinese wedding, part of a practice that dates back centuries.

Chinese workers to get 2 extra days’ holiday, including longer Lunar New Year

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How Chinese wedding dresses are made and their meaning on the big day

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At Hong Kong’s Tam Jai noodle joint, waitresses are the stars

These ‘Tam Jai jeh jehs’ are not only the backbone of the beloved chain, they’ve even modelled for a fashion show with the Hong Kong Design Institute.

A female staff member carrying out a bowl of soup noodles at a Tam Jai restaurant in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Photo: Alexander Mak

Opinion | How feng shui can inspire China’s quest for environmental justice

China’s efforts to mitigate climate change and protect nature reveal a modern commitment to principles embodied by an ancient discipline.

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In mainland China, Taiwanese books wait in limbo as censors bolster barriers

Mainland editors say new rules and pressure from regulators have slowed publication of Taiwanese literature to a trickle since 2019.

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Meet the ‘Bourdain of China’ telling ‘amazing’ food stories on YouTube

Christopher St. Cavish is known for writing about soup dumplings. His new video series spotlights foods around China and those behind them.

A dumpling master preparing the dough for Chinese soup dumplings. Photo: Sheila Zhao

Chinese horoscopes: how’s your luck in November 2024, Water Pig month?

If you are a Pig like billionaire Elon Musk or royal Queen Camilla, November is all about being humble – but what about the other 11 Chinese astrological signs?

What can you expect at a Chinese wedding banquet? All the dishes explained

Chefs in Hong Kong break down the must-eat dishes at Chinese wedding banquets and their names’ auspicious portents for the lucky couple.

Chinese wedding games and what happens when they go too far

Games are a staple of Chinese weddings, but some get out of hand, resulting in abuse and injury that have sparked debate online.

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A still from a viral Chinese social media video of a woman being tied to a lamppost by men during a Chinese wedding hazing ritual. Photo: Weibo

Opinion | How can China’s reforms succeed when officials act like overbearing parents?

The ‘we-know-best’ mentality prevents market forces from playing a decisive role and affects investor confidence.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Letters | Hong Kong must give high-calibre talent a reason to come

Readers discuss how Hong Kong can attract well-connected professionals, a local ballet’s cross-cultural appeal, and why the second phase of the city’s plastic ban shouldn’t be delayed.

From combing hair to gifting a suckling pig, Chinese wedding rituals

Find out who conducts the pre-wedding hair-combing ceremony, how to play door games on the big day and the role a red umbrella plays.

Being Chinese | We’re Chinese and we fight to pay for dinner

Economic and societal shifts have forced me to reconsider the fight-to-pay ritual at multi-generation family gatherings.

At the end of a Chinese family meal, it is common to see the tug of war over who picks up the bill. Photo: Shutterstock

How Chow Tai Fook is reviving ancient Chinese culture for the 21st century

The Guangzhou-founded, Hong Kong-based jewellery brand is honouring the traditions and craftsmanship of Chinese culture, while infusing them with design sensibilities resonating with modern consumers.

Models wearing pieces from Chow Tai Fook’s Palace Museum collection walk down the runway at the brand’s 95th anniversary presentation at Rosewood Beijing. Photos: Handout

Explainer | How China police use Mazu deity to mediate disputes with remarkable success

An old Chinese saying goes, ‘There are gods three feet above your head’, which means ‘God is watching’.

Why gold jewellery is an important part of traditional Chinese weddings

Gold is traditionally a big part of a Chinese wedding, and the bride wears as much jewellery as possible on her wedding day.

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Chinese government workers urge women to get pregnant in latest birth rate push

The national grass-roots campaign to gauge sentiment and create pregnancy incentives is running into lingering resentment and worry, officials say.

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A new survey to gather data on women and pregnancies in China is getting a rough reception from people who resent past family planning policies. Photo: Reuters

Meet a real-life Mr Miyagi based in Fuzhou – but what is Incense Shop kung fu?

Unlike his Karate Kid counterpart, Lin Shan Quan doesn’t do discretion – instead he’s going all out to bring his particular martial art to the uninitiated masses.

Letters | Hong Kong shows its education hub aspiration isn’t just talk

Readers discuss the government’s push to become a magnet for global talent, language requirements for university admissions, a new Chinese culture centre and provision of handrails around the city.

Reflections | Only Hong Kong sex symbol Amy Yip should be offended over bubble tea

Accusations of cultural appropriation aimed at a Canadian brand’s boba tea don’t sit right in Asia, where ‘borrowing’ cuisines is normal.

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Actress Amy Yip on a film set.

What is XO sauce? All you need to know about the Chinese condiment

Chefs talk about the sauce’s ingredients, uses, how to make it and why it’s called ‘XO’, plus its Hong Kong origins and link to Lee Kum Kee.

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XO sauce is typically made with expensive ingredients such as dried scallops, shrimp roe, dried shrimps and Jinhua ham. Photo: Catty & Tael

Why there’s a bittersweet side to Chinese wedding drink ‘bride wine’

Nu’er hong, or huadiao, is rice wine traditionally drunk at Chinese weddings. Matured 18 years, its opening marks a daughter’s leaving home.

3 unusual Chinese musical instruments that have experts confused

Shaped like a fish, tiger and box respectively, the muyu, yu, and zhu are percussion instruments that all fall under the wood classification.

Review | Hong Kong Ballet’s The Butterfly Lovers is a triumph of choreography

Created in-house, this version of the classic story blends ballet with Chinese dance, and has an incredible score and amazing choreography.

Lai Pengxiang in a scene from Hong Kong Ballet: the Butterfly Lovers. Photo: Conrad Dy-Liacco/Hong Kong Ballet

Review | In Tan Dun’s Sound River, thought-provoking art meets public spectacle

Forces of four symphony orchestras perform beneath giant screen at Hong Kong Coliseum to open this year’s Greater Bay Area arts festival.

Tan Dun’s multimedia spectacle Sound River performed at the Hong Kong Coliseum with the Chinese composer conducting players from four symphony orchestras. Photo: LCSD

Being Chinese | In US vs Chinese soft power, guess how children are voting?

As children around me get sucked into the rabbit hole of Disney, Marvel and Netflix, I wonder about the reach of Chinese culture.

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Video | How some of the best wines in China are being made by women

From the dusty vineyards of China’s countryside to its chic metropolitan bars, women are at the forefront of the country’s increasingly vibrant wine scene.

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Chinese culture
Latest news and updates on Chinese culture including the country’s traditions, food, values, history and festivals.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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