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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. She lost 24kg in 7 months, then became a bodybuilding DJ. Here’s how
From a shy stay-at-home wife and mother to a world-stage bodybuilder, celebrity trainer, mountaineer, DJ and photographer, Kiran Dembla’s transformation is a reminder that life is what we make it.
2. From bar singer to Hong Kong icon: how Hins Cheung refused to let the dream die

The Cantopop star, who continues to sell out stadiums, is as passionate about the arts as he is about preserving heritage buildings.
3. Why these common painkillers might be bad news for long distance runners
NSAIDs strain the kidneys, as does endurance running, and many race organisers advise against taking the anti-inflammatories during events.
4. Japanese-American, 60, who went viral saying it’s never too late to start over

Dana Nakagawa reinvented herself as a content creator and now posts videos on starting over, decluttering and her interpretation of ikigai.
5. 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.
6. For these Hongkongers, walking isn’t just exercise – it’s therapy
In a city obsessed with efficiency, optimisation and results, walking has rarely been focused on as a health intervention. Yet across Hong Kong, a quiet reframing is taking place. Increasingly, it is being described not as light exercise or leisure, but as a form of everyday medicine, one that supports mental health, recovery from illness and ageing well, without injury or pressure.
7. 2016 trends from Pokemon Go to poke bowls amid viral internet nostalgia

Nostalgia for 2016 has been circulating on the internet over the last few weeks. People welcomed the new year by reminiscing 10 years into the past, sharing decade-old photos of themselves online. There is even a Wikipedia page for “2026 is the new 2016”.


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

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SCMP Highlights

Indian mother’s health journey, Hong Kong icon’s path to stardom: 7 Lifestyle highlights

At her heaviest, Kiran Dembla weighed 76kg. She drastically cut her weight in seven months, before becoming a competitive body builder, DJ and mountaineer, proving it is never too late to chase dreams. Photos: Kiran Dembla

Cantopop singer Hins Cheung performs during half-time at the Legends Assemble match between Real Madrid Legends and Barcelona Heroes at Hong Kong Stadium on December 20, 2024. Photo: Getty Images

One of the things that Dana Nakagawa talks about in her YouTube videos is her interpretation of the Japanese concept of ikigai. Photo: Dana Nakagawa

According to Chinese geomancy, those born in the Year of the Horse will conflict with the tai sui in the coming year, bringing potentially bad luck. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

People play Pokemon Go in Hong Kong on July 25, 2016, the day it was released in the city. The online game was one of the hottest trends in the city 10 years ago. Photo: Nora Tam

Japan’s love for Chinese noodles; AI’s Year of the Horse forecasts: 7 Lifestyle highlights

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

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

Alexander Fu Sheng in a still from Chinatown Kid (1977), one of the films that saw the Hong Kong martial arts star take on projects outside his usual Shaolin kung fu genre. 

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

China’s Ningbo cuisine; Hong Kong goes Back to the Past: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Ningbo-style marinated virgin crab is served at Zao Feng Lou in Cixi, Ningbo. The region’s unique cuisine, blending umami, salty and stinky flavours with innovative techniques, showcases its rich culinary heritage. Photo: Hei-kiu Au

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be lucky for you? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha offers her comprehensive predictions for those born under all 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

Louis Koo in a still from Back to the Past. The film, a sequel to the 2000s TVB drama series A Step into the Past, is setting records at the local box office.

Women tattoo artists, history behind viral Adidas jacket: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Bella Yuen tattoos a client at her Hong Kong studio. The artist, who is greatly influenced by Chinese calligraphy and painting, is one of a group in the city taking inspiration from traditional elements to create something new. Photo: Nic Tse

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

At Central Asian restaurant Yurt, in Central, Hong Kong, Beshbarmak is served with horsemeat sausage (kazy) with a side of beef broth. Photo: Yurt

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Chinese Zodiac

Chinese culture

Entertainment

Food & Drink

From tai sui rituals in the Year of the Horse to Hong Kong’s walking trend, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting


From tai sui rituals in the Year of the Horse to Hong Kong’s walking trend, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.


Hong Kong

Year of the Horse 2026

Indian mother’s health journey, Hong Kong icon’s path to stardom: 7 Lifestyle highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From tai sui rituals in the Year of the Horse to Hong Kong’s walking trend, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. She lost 24kg in 7 months, then became a bodybuilding DJ. Here’s how

From tai sui rituals in the Year of the Horse to Hong Kong’s walking trend, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting