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SCMP

We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Don’t have life sorted by 25? Not to worry – why TCM says your peak comes later
For anyone feeling the pressure to have it all figured out by 25, take a breath. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), you are far from hitting your peak.
2. How often should your air conditioner be cleaned to prevent health risks?
When social media influencer Utah Lee had the air conditioners in her Hong Kong home cleaned for the first time in a year, she was shocked to find an ant’s nest, many dead bugs and even a live gecko. Images from her Instagram post show the grime, dust and mould that had accumulated inside the units.
3. ‘Cleverest woman that ever lived’: the rise of China’s Empress Dowager Cixi

One of the most powerful and influential women in Chinese history, Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) controlled Qing-dynasty China for nearly half a century, first as regent for her young son, then as the power behind another child emperor.
4. Notes from the Last Row: Choi Min-sik lifts soapy academic thriller K-drama
A disillusioned literature professor rediscovers his love for storytelling in the twisty mystery thriller Notes from the Last Row, a K-drama adaptation of a Spanish play.
5. Can too much running cause colon cancer? New study raises questions
After seeing three marathoners with colon cancer in a span of about six months, oncologist Dr Timothy Cannon could not help but wonder if it was more than a coincidence. Could there be a connection between the cancer and the gastrointestinal (GI) problems many runners experience during long events?
6. How Running on Karma with Andy Lau hid a Buddhist tragedy behind muscles

The 2003 film Running on Karma is an eccentric blend of police procedural, spirituality and mysticism that marks Hong Kong film director Johnnie To Kei-fung and frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai’s first foray into self-consciously “artistic” cinema – and it remains an engrossing watch today.
7. Bear’s paw, monkey brain? Not in this US$2,000 Manchu-Han banquet in Hong Kong

The Manchu-Han banquet (or Manhan quanxi) – a legendary grand feast dating back to the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) – was, depending on how you interpret it, either the pinnacle of imperial culinary extravagance or the origin of China’s reputation for eating everything.


TCM’s take on human life; rise of China’s Empress Dowager Cixi: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Fish named after Blackpink’s Jennie; China’s 6G smart city: 7 science highlights

Chinese tourists high on Malaysia, why Europe is praising Lee Kuan Yew: 7 Asia highlights

Europeans hunt for Chinese aircons, Wu Chun’s luggage ordeal: 5 weekend reads

SCMP Highlights

One expert recommends that air conditioners should be professionally cleaned at least once a year, with twice a year being a better target to prevent significant mould growth, which generally begins around five to six months after cleaning. Photo: Shutterstock

A traditional Chinese medicine doctor looks at a research model of acupuncture points on the human body. Acupuncture is one of several treatments traditionally prescribed in TCM to ensure transitions between later life cycles feel smooth. Photo: Shutterstock

A portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi, one of the most powerful and influential women in Chinese history. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Andy Lau in a still from Running on Karma (2003). Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai teamed up to make this dark Buddhist tragedy packaged as a comedy that received a positive reception despite catching viewers off guard. 

Dishes from Chinesology’s Tales of History tasting menu, which reimagines the legendary Manchu-Han banquet. Photo: Chinesology

Dad loses weight for daughter; Dear You’s box office success: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Ayo Canlas with daughter Arya in August 2022 (left) and June 2026. Photo: Ayo Canlas

Li Sitong as the young Nanzhi in a still from Dear You (category IIA, Teochew), directed by Lan Hongchun. Wang Yantong and Wu Shaoqing co-star.

Hong Kong singer and actor Andy Hui Chi-on in 1997. Hui, one of Cantopop’s “New Four Heavenly Kings”, was embroiled in a cheating scandal in 2019 that threatened to destroy his legacy. Photo: Dickson Lee

Gavin Yeung, co-founder of Hong Kong matcha brand Celadon, stirs matcha with a traditional tea whisk. The company uses powder from China’s Zhejiang province to spotlight the green tea’s true Chinese origins, which, the founders say, are contrary to “everything this generation knows about matcha”. Photo: Chloe Loung

A$AP Rocky poses with Eva Sam at Sam’s Chinatown goldsmith shop Popular Jewelry, which has become a hip-hop landmark, in New York City. The rapper has developed a friendship with Macau-born Sam since his first visit in the early 2010s. Photo: Popular Jewelry

TCM for a new generation, Dragon Boat Festival top picks: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Elizabeth Yau at her clinic in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong

How’s your luck in the Year of the Horse 2026’s fifth month? Feng shui master Andrew Kwan gives his predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs. Photo: Shutterstock

A painting of Empress Xiaozhuang (1613-1688), known for most of her life by the title Grand Empress Dowager. Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A Hong Kong professional who hid a years‑long cocaine habit reveals how meditation helped her overcome her addiction. Illustration: Cameira

Tokyo Sézanne’s missing stars; Hongkonger shed 32kg in 8 months: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Sézanne at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, Japan. The restaurant has been quietly stripped of its three Michelin stars. Photo: Sézanne

Hong Kong executive Keizer Cheng in August 2024 (left) and in March 2025 after losing 32kg and trimming his body fat to 12.5 per cent. His fitness journey included a structured fitness programme and a new approach to eating. Photo: onepersonaltraininghk.com

Tourists stroll through lavender fields at Tomita Farm, one of the most colourful spots in Furano. The city in central Hokkaido comes into its own during summer, when it offers visitors the chance to enjoy its natural beauty and delicious local produce in temperate weather. Photo: Kyodo News via Getty Images

Espineli says his life has always been shaped by discipline and movement. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The classic prawn toast at Cafe Kowloon in London comes covered in sesame seeds. Chefs around the UK are now experimenting with the dish. Photo: Cafe Kowloon

(From left) Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Ekin Cheng and Jason Chu in a still from Young and Dangerous (1996). Jerry Lamb also stars. Photo: Golden Harvest

Lifestyle

Culture

From a US$2,000 Manchu-Han banquet in Hong Kong to Andy Lau’s film Running on Karma, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting


From a US$2,000 Manchu-Han banquet in Hong Kong to Andy Lau’s film Running on Karma, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.


China

TCM’s take on human life; rise of China’s Empress Dowager Cixi: 7 Lifestyle highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From a US$2,000 Manchu-Han banquet in Hong Kong to Andy Lau’s film Running on Karma, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. Don’t have life sorted by 25? Not to worry – why TCM says your peak comes later

From a US$2,000 Manchu-Han banquet in Hong Kong to Andy Lau’s film Running on Karma, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting