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Lifestyle /
Chinese culture
Related Topics:
Chinese superstitions
Martial arts
Lunar New Year
Chinese history
Hong Kong culture
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
Chinese culture
How Horses can appease the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026
Horses will be at odds with the tai sui deity in the Year of the Fire Horse. Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares how they can avoid bad luck.
1 Feb 2026 - 7:15AM
SCMP Highlights
Japan’s love for Chinese noodles; ‘unlucky’ chocolate: 7 Lifestyle highlights
29 Jan 2026 - 5:11PM
Chinese culture
Reservations now open for new banknotes for Year of the Horse red packets
28 Jan 2026 - 6:15PM
Chinese culture
Is this ‘unlucky’ chocolate mahjong set cultural appropriation?
A Hong Kong-based chocolate company is facing criticism for its Lunar New Year set, which features a winning hand known as ‘13 Orphans’.
26 Jan 2026 - 7:59AM
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A box of Conspiracy Chocolate’s latest Lunar New Year collection showcases “mahjong tiles” displayed in a winning “13 Orphans” hand. The chocolate set has sparked a cultural appropriation debate over its unlucky symbolism. Photo: Conspiracy Chocolate
Chinese culture
What does AI predict will happen in the fiery Year of the Horse 2026?
With the rise of AI mirroring the Year of the Fire Horse’s restless energy, we ask DeepSeek, Perplexity and Gemini their 2026 predictions.
24 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Snakes, from money to health
Snakes will enjoy increased wealth and stable relationships in the Year of the Fire Horse, but curse stars will bring ailments and stress.
23 Jan 2026 - 7:15AM
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Chinese culture
Is the Year of the Snake’s 12th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signs
Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances.
22 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM
How’s your luck in the Year of the Snake’s 12th month? Feng shui master Andrew Kwan gives his predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinese culture
Why Asia’s historic Silk Road should have been called the ‘Horse Road’
It was China’s desperate need for good warhorses that spawned history’s most famous trade network, animals it paid for in silk and then tea.
21 Jan 2026 - 7:15PM
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Dragons, from career to romance
The Year of the Fire Horse will bring Dragons good luck in terms of career development, but the outlook for romance and health isn’t so rosy.
26 Jan 2026 - 11:52AM
Chinese culture
World’s first Chinese rosewood cello stars in Hong Kong exhibition
Made over six months from a 200-year-old piece of Chinese rosewood, or huanghuali, the cello is now on show at Sheung Wan’s Liang Yi Museum.
20 Jan 2026 - 7:15PM
Chinese culture
This remote Chinese minority uses horsetail hair to create beautiful embroidery
A craft passed down for thousands of years, the horsetail embroidery of China’s Shui people is deemed a local intangible cultural heritage.
19 Jan 2026 - 7:15PM
A Shui minority woman embroiders with horsetail in Sandu Shui Autonomous County in China’s Guizhou province. Shui minority women can spend months or even years making a piece of horsetail embroidery, which is used as decoration on clothes, shoes, wallets and more. Photo: Visual China Group via Getty Images
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Rabbits, from career to romance
The Year of the Fire Horse will bring Rabbits good luck at work, and romance will blossom. But they should pay attention to their health.
26 Jan 2026 - 11:52AM
Chinese culture
Why the Year of the Horse 2026 will be luckier in wealth than love for Oxen
While wealth, career and health fortunes will be good for Oxen in the Year of the Fire Horse, true love might be hard to come by.
26 Jan 2026 - 11:55AM
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Tigers, from career to romance
The Year of the Fire Horse will bring Tigers increased wealth, but things could get ugly at work, and medical conditions might worsen.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:16AM
Chinese culture
Why the Year of the Horse 2026 could be a tough one for Rats
Unlucky stars in the Year of the Fire Horse mean Rats will have to work hard to reap rewards at the office, and travel with caution.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:57AM
Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Rats? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Chinese culture
7 horse-themed Chinese idioms to use during the Year of the Horse
Horses symbolise strength, speed and health in Chinese culture. Here are seven sayings based on the animal, with Cantonese pronunciations.
15 Jan 2026 - 6:15PM
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Pigs, from money to love and health
After a volatile year, Pigs will enjoy success at work in the Year of the Fire Horse, but need to pay close attention to their health.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:56AM
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Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Dogs, from success at work to love
Harmony with the tai sui deity means Dogs’ wealth will grow in the Year of the Fire Horse, but certain relationships will need nurturing.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:45AM
Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Dogs? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Chinese culture
What the Chinese surname Ma, meaning ‘horse’, symbolises and how it spread
Ma is one of mainland China’s most common surnames and is interestingly even prevalent among Chinese Muslims. We look at its history.
13 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM
Chinese culture
Why the Year of the Horse 2026 will be lucrative and romantic for Roosters
Lucky stars in the Year of the Fire Horse mean Roosters will prosper at work and could meet their ideal partner. But healthy living is key.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:52AM
Chinese culture
Lunar New Year greetings in Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese and Hokkien
The Year of the Horse 2026 will be welcomed across China with blessings for money, health and more. Here are common ones and their meanings.
12 Jan 2026 - 5:25PM
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Monkeys, from love to health
In the Year of the Fire Horse, Monkeys should focus on travel and avoid places with heavy yin energy, fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha says.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:51AM
The Year of the Horse 2026 will be a time for those born in the Year of the Monkey to expand networks abroad. But married Monkeys are at risk of feeling alienated from their spouse. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Chinese culture
Why the Year of the Horse 2026 will be lucky for Sheep in money and love
A fortune-teller reveals why the Year of the Fire Horse will be a positive one for Sheep and how to take advantage of good fortune.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:39AM
Chinese culture
Why the Year of the Horse will be a profitable but turbulent one for Horses
In this volatile, turbulent year, Horses can expect to prosper at the office or in a new job, but health and romance will not be so lucky.
20 Jan 2026 - 11:48AM
Chinese culture
Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for all 12 zodiac signs. Is your luck in?
A fortune-teller gives Year of the Fire Horse predictions for careers, relationships and more, plus lucky numbers, colours and elements.
31 Jan 2026 - 3:32PM
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