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Chinese culture

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Chinese superstitions
Martial arts
Lunar New Year
Chinese history
Hong Kong culture
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
Tantanmen noodles at Szechuan Tantanmen Aun in Tokyo. The noodle dish, which has its roots in China’s Sichuan province, is found on many menus in Japan, but how did it become so popular in a country known for food with light flavours? Photo: Phoebe Amoroso
SCMP Highlights

Japan’s love for Chinese noodles; ‘unlucky’ chocolate: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From AI’s predictions for the Year of the Horse to an ‘unlucky’ chocolate mahjong set, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Chinese culture

Reservations now open for new banknotes for Year of the Horse red packets

Chinese culture

Is this ‘unlucky’ chocolate mahjong set cultural appropriation?

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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.

Alphabet Inc.’s Google debuted an updated version of its artificial intelligence model, Gemini, that executives said represents a “massive jump” in reasoning and coding ability. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Alphabet Inc.’s Google debuted an updated version of its artificial intelligence model, Gemini, that executives said represents a “massive jump” in reasoning and coding ability. (Dreamstime/TNS)
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.

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.

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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.

Horse models are seen at an exhibition titled “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” at the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui. China’s need for strong warhorses for its cavalry ranks drove the creation of the Silk Road trade network. Photo: Nora Tam
Horse models are seen at an exhibition titled “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” at the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui. China’s need for strong warhorses for its cavalry ranks drove the creation of the Silk Road trade network. Photo: Nora Tam
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.

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.

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.

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.

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Rabbits? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Rabbits? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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.

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.

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.

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.

Horses are the subject of many Chinese idioms. Here are seven of the most popular horse-related expressions in Chinese, how to pronounce them in Cantonese and the stories behind them. Photo: Shutterstock
Horses are the subject of many Chinese idioms. Here are seven of the most popular horse-related expressions in Chinese, how to pronounce them in Cantonese and the stories behind them. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

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.

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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.

As the Year of the Horse 2026 approaches, we explore the origins and prevalence of the Chinese surname Ma, which literally translates as “horse”. Photo: Shutterstock
As the Year of the Horse 2026 approaches, we explore the origins and prevalence of the Chinese surname Ma, which literally translates as “horse”. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

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.

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.

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.

Those born in the Year of the Sheep will have a change in fortunes in the Year of the Horse, with good luck in their careers, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Those born in the Year of the Sheep will have a change in fortunes in the Year of the Horse, with good luck in their careers, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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.

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.

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Fashion

History of Chinese-style ‘frog buttons’, seen on viral Adidas jacket

Used in China for centuries, frog buttons are a key feature of a limited-edition Adidas jacket that has become a huge hit on social media.

A model wears Adidas’ “Tang-style” jacket that combines streetwear cool with Chinese details including “frog buttons”. The jacket has become a viral hit on social media. Photo: Adidas Power of Three
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