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Hong Kong Origins Stories

The fascinating backstories of your favourite Hong Kong dishes, buildings and traditions.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

The spout is too short and leaks everywhere, the belly is too wide and burns the fingers, the handles crushes the fingers and the lid falls off all the time ... yet we continue to use the traditional Chinese “teapot from hell”.

Good Eating

The teapot from hell? Why the classic Chinese design needs a rethink – fast

The spout leaks everywhere, the handle crushes the fingers and the lid falls off all the time ... so why are we still using it in dim sum restaurants the world over?

7 Dec 2021 - 8:00AM

Chinese cuisine

How char siu became Hong Kong’s go-to comfort food

10 Oct 2021 - 12:00PM

Old Hong Kong

How the world’s largest boat sank in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour

9 Aug 2021 - 9:00AMvideocam

Old Hong Kong

The story behind Hong Kong’s famous Queen’s Road

The city’s oldest street has always been a prime shopping, entertainment and commercial area, but did you know it used to have more squatter huts than fancy buildings?

6 Jul 2021 - 5:10PM

Hong Kong

Are old Hong Kong’s famous tailors disappearing?

From David Bowie and Stanley Ho, to US presidents and their servicemen, old Hong Kong’s tailors made clothes for everyone – but are TST’s famous suit makers going out of fashion?

16 Jun 2021 - 2:51PM

Asian recipes

Why do we eat zongzi during Dragon Boat Festival?

Is the tragic story of a poet from China’s Warring States period really the reason we eat zongzi during Dragon Boat Festival? Or has it been a tasty on-the-go snack for much longer?

12 Jun 2021 - 7:00AM

Tourism

Hong Kong’s Peak Tram, then and now: what can we expect from its upgrade?

The ride, one of the city’s signature attractions, is getting an upgrade to allow bigger carriages to ferry still more tourists up the hill to enjoy the views

11 Jun 2021 - 3:34PM

Hong Kong

Nathan Road through the years: from beach and barracks to neon-lit ‘Golden Mile’

The site of some of Kowloon’s oldest buildings including the graceful Peninsula hotel, the buzzing shopping street remains popular with tourists – and the streetwise sales people that target them

8 Jun 2021 - 5:39PM

Hong Kong culture

Which of these 5 classic cinemas of old Hong Kong have you visited?

More than just movies, these iconic venues once hosted live theatre and music – from The Beatles to Cantonese opera – but how many of these historic halls are still standing today?

7 Jun 2021 - 10:46AM

Auctions

Explainer | What is a ‘luminous cup’ and why are they so valuable?

Feted by poets and featured in films, these Chinese jade or agate cups can rake in the cash at auctions, but what makes a good quality buy?

4 Jun 2021 - 3:30PMvideocam

The luminous effect of a white jade cup from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, which sold for US$1.19 million in 2004. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong

The surprising history behind Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road

It’s a popular tourist destination today, but did you know it’s older than California’s Tinseltown and used to be a haven for sailors selling antiques?

1 Jun 2021 - 2:32PM

Hollywood Road is Hong Kong’s second oldest paved road and its historic sights, and busy shops and stalls have long made it popular with visitors. Photo: SCMP

Lunar New Year

What is the Lunar New Year chuen hup, or candy box?

The colourful, multi-compartment box filled with sweets, fruits, nuts and seeds is a fixture in Chinese households during Lunar New Year, but what do the different snacks symbolise, and what auspicious qualities do they invite in the coming year?

20 May 2021 - 3:24PM

Origins series

Why do we eat mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival?

Before premium, brand-name mooncakes became the must-gift seasonal treat – there was the legend of moon goddess Chang’e and the folk tale about Ming Dynasty revolutionaries

20 May 2021 - 4:06PM

Origins series

Wonton – crispy or boiled? The great dim sum debate

Maybe MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen was right to criticise ‘not crunchy’ deep-fried dumplings, after all

20 May 2021 - 4:08PM

Masterchef Australia judge Andy Allen and crispy wontons – who is right in the crispness controversy? Photo: SCMP

Origins series

Which popular Chinese restaurant staples are truly Chinese?

Fortune cookies are Japanese, prawn crackers Indonesian, everybody knows chow mein is American – but orange chicken might be more authentic than you think

20 May 2021 - 4:09PM

The dispute over who created General Tso’s chicken forms the basis for a documentary called The Search for General Tso’s Chicken, that premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. Photo: handout

Lunar New Year

What is ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ and would you pay US$144 for it?

A popular dish at Lunar New Year, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is also known as Buddha’s Temptation or Happiness and Longevity

20 May 2021 - 4:10PMvideocam

Origins series

Lions aren’t native to China, so where did the lion dance come from?

Get ready for the clanging of cymbals and beating of drums that announce the colourful trance of the lion dance – but how much do you know about this centuries-old CNY tradition?

20 May 2021 - 4:10PM

Origins series

Lunar New Year explainer: what’s with all the lions and lanterns?

As 1.5 billion people this week celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rat, we delve into the rich Chinese New Year traditions – from a people-eating monster called Nian to today’s Spring Festival

20 May 2021 - 4:09PM

When it comes to Lunar New Year, every home needs some big red balls

Origins series

Which Lunar New Year dishes bring luck and prosperity?

Lunar New Year comes with a myriad of traditions, customs and auspicious acts, and food is no exception

20 May 2021 - 4:07PM

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