appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

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. How Carina Lau became a top film star and her best movies
Hong Kong actress Carina Lau Ka-ling always brings a strong sense of presence to her work, whether she is appearing in drama or comedy, as a leading actress or a supporting player.
2. A US$24 dried plum? Hong Kong seller preserves tradition while modernising

Yiu Fung, a company specialising in leung gwo – preserved fruit – is a Hong Kong success story, now managed by third-generation manager Viego Szeto and his brother Szeto Wing-shun.
3. From pirate flag to social justice symbol, the Jolly Roger’s evolution

Pirates, ahoy! You may be visualising RL Stevenson’s Treasure Island, legendary figures like Blackbeard, fictional pirates like Peter Pan’s Captain Hook or The Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow – and, of course, the familiar and much-feared flag featuring a white skull and crossbones on a black background, known as the Jolly Roger.
4. Over 60? It’s not too late – exercising body and mind can ward off dementia
Here is the proof you can teach “old dogs” new tricks and that even in our 60s and beyond, people can get fitter, stronger and more resilient to cognitive decline. Laura Baker, a professor in geriatrics at Wake Forest University’s school of medicine, in the US state of North Carolina, recently led a study that examined a combination of interventions that “led to a statistically significant greater improvement in global cognition”, or overall mental ability.
5. Seoul Art Week draws big crowds and headline sales despite market downturn
The start of September saw hundreds of galleries flock to Seoul and major exhibitions open at many of the city’s museums as two contemporary art fairs – Frieze Seoul and Kiaf – opened to mark the South Korean capital’s annual Art Week.
6. ‘No shoes, no news’ resort awarded best hospitality by World’s 50 Best Hotels

Soneva Fushi, a luxury resort in the Baa Atoll Unesco Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, has won the Art of Hospitality Award in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 ranking.
7. Cong Quartet celebrate 10th anniversary with Hong Kong concert
They say a week in politics can be a long time, but try 10 years in chamber music. No one can appreciate the magnitude of that commitment more than Hong Kong’s foremost string quartet, the Cong Quartet, as they reflect on a decade of challenges, member changes and the well-earned awards along the way.


Southeast Asia’s climate; Singaporeans and a work ethic stereotype: 7 Asia highlights

Trump’s China trip assessed, South Korea’s AI problem: 5 weekend reads you missed

Xi-Trump summit: all you need to know from the final day of the meeting in Beijing

China hosts Trump at Temple of Heaven; Hong Kong sushi parasite video: SCMP’s 7 highlights

SCMP Highlights

Carina Lau’s best films, Jolly Roger’s evolution, Seoul Art Week: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Assorted leung gwo from Yiu Fung. Photo: Yue


Hong Kong actress Carina Lau attends the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards presentation ceremony on April 14, 2024. Photo: Sam Tsang

A HK$200 (US$24) preserved plum from Yiu Fung, a third-generation Hong Kong preserved fruit company. Each of the plums is hand-picked, crafted using premium natural ingredients, hand-prepared and sun-dried for 60 days. Photo: Lisa Cam

An activist holds a poster as a flag from the Japanese anime One Piece is displayed during a rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 3, 2025. Photo: AP

Guests enjoy a meal at a Japanese restaurant at Soneva Fushi, which won the Art of Hospitality Award in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 ranking. Photo: Soneva Fushi

Chinese supernatural beings explained, a 30kg weight loss journey: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Tony Leung Chiu-wai in a still from Silent Friend. Photo: Lenke Szilagyi

Gong Li plays Baigujing, or White Bone Spirit, in a still from the 2016 film The Monkey King 2. Jing, or spirits, are living and non-living entities in Chinese culture that, unlike yao (demons), do not only manifest in human form. Photo: Filmko Entertainment

After she started seeing online fitness trainer Sheikh Nadir Siddiquee in 2023, Ashanthi Nandika now weighs 55kg. Photo: Ashanthi Nandika

Chinese actress Xin Zhilei holds the Volpi Cup for best actress for her performance in The Sun Rises on Us All at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Photo: EPA

Tony Leung Chiu-wai’s character studies a gingko tree in a still from Silent Friend, directed by Ildikó Enyedi. Photo: Lenke Szilagyi

Douglas Bray (centre) competes in the Hyrox challenge in Hong Kong in July. Completing the gruelling race left the cancer survivor feeling “fully recovered” three years after his life-changing surgery. Photo: Douglas Bray

Training your mind to be happy, meaning of Chinese ‘red thread’: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Hong Kong actor and singer Louis Koo in a still from the action thriller Paradox (2017).

Want to feel happier? Think of happiness as a state of mind that can be attained through life practices. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh has starred in a number of notable TVB shows, including War and Beauty (2004), Maidens’ Vow (2006), You’re Hired (2009) and Line Walker (2014). Photo: Instagram/charmaine_sheh

Hungry Ghost Festival rituals are held at Wah Fu Estate in Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, on August 31, 2025. Photo: Karma Lo

According to legend in China and across East Asia, a red thread connects soul mates and prevents them from posing each other. Photo: Getty Images

Malaysian teen plays 30 instruments, Hong Kong mooncake deals: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Belle Sisoski’s unique sonic identity has earned her more than a million followers on each of her major platforms, with her YouTube videos amassing over 100 million views. Photo: Belle Sisoski

Kowloon Shangri-La’s durian mooncakes are one of the more creative offerings this year from Hong Kong hotels, many of which have early-bird discounts in the coming days and weeks. Photo: Instagram/kowloonshangrila


A dish at Samsen in Wan Chai. Photo: Samsen

Hong Kong-based photographer Derry Ainsworth at 98kg (left) before developing severe acute pancreatitis, which saw him quit drinking, change his diet and do more exercise, dropping to 78kg (right). Photo: Derry Ainsworth

Singapore firms gamify ageing well, 500 illustrations of toast: 7 Lifestyle highlights

James Gannaban performs a lateral bending compass pose in 2024. He reveals how he went from Disney performer to nightclub manager battling addiction to recovering through yoga. Photo: Instagram/jamesgannaban

An entire wall inside Ztoryhome is lined with Nomkakaii’s work. Photo: Nancy Wang


The bouchon gratiné is a favourite snack on Réunion Island, made with a baguette, chilli sauce, siu mai and melted cheese. Photo: X/ LudovicShooter

Dried tangerine peel, or chun pei, is used in various Chinese dishes and can be bought at specialist dried ingredients stores and traditional Chinese medicine herbalists. Photo: Shutterstock

Cantopop queen Sally Yeh’s reign, Chinese medicine for weight loss: 7 Lifestyle highlights

A TCM practitioner prepares traditional Chinese medicine ingredients. Photo: Shutterstock


Sally Yeh performs in Hong Kong in 1994. The singer and actress rose to the top of Hong Kong show business despite arriving in the city unable to speak Cantonese. Photo: Martin Chan

Ewa and Jeromy Ko eat a meal at a branch of Chiu Hing Fishball Noodle Rice in Hong Kong. Photo: Nom Life

Guests enjoy wine at an event co-hosted by China Wine Club’s Camden Hauge in New York. Photo: Daniel Huang

Hong Kong-born artist Josephine Cheung’s commemorative exhibition was recently held at Alisan Fine Arts in New York. Photo: courtesy of Alisan Fine Arts

Lifestyle

Entertainment

Health & Wellness

Arts

Food & Drink

From the evolution of the Jolly Roger to an award-winning resort in the Maldives, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting


From the evolution of the Jolly Roger to an award-winning resort in the Maldives, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.


Carina Lau’s best films, Jolly Roger’s evolution, Seoul Art Week: 7 Lifestyle highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From the evolution of the Jolly Roger to an award-winning resort in the Maldives, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. How Carina Lau became a top film star and her best movies

From the evolution of the Jolly Roger to an award-winning resort in the Maldives, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting