appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Phila Siu

Even the velvet glove can throw a punch, as Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan demonstrated by trading fake blows with an elderly woman during a visit to a Hong Kong home for the elderly on Friday.
Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan, to add a dash of glamour to Hong Kong visit
While her husband, President Xi Jinping, was inspecting the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong at the biggest military parade since the city’s handover in 1997, Peng went on a charm offensive to win over the elderly residents.
Watch: first lady visits home for the elderly


As she toured the Sunshine Complex for the Elderly in Wong Chuk Hang, Peng witnessed a resident doing boxing exercises as part of her health regimen, according to a video released by the Hong Kong government.
“Nei hou,” Peng said, using the Cantonese phrase for “hello”.
The woman, her hands in red boxing gloves, sportingly threw three fake punches at Peng.
A smiling first lady responded by pretending to throw some of her own.







Peng then watched others working on their drawings, describing one woman’s work as “hou leng” – the Cantonese phrase for “very beautiful”.
She then made paper flowers with a group of elderly residents. One of them told Peng that she was beautiful, to which the first lady put on a big smile and replied “do ze” – Cantonese for “thank you”.
Peng, who is in town with Xi for the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China, toured the centre for about half an hour accompanied by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s wife, Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee.






On Thursday, the first day of her three-day trip, Peng opted for a classic Chinese look, sporting a beige striped jacket with a Mandarin collar, paired with a pencil skirt.
On Friday, she continued the classic Chinese theme, wearing a black silk dress with a cheongsam collar and butterfly buttons matched with a thin brown leather belt and a floral brooch.
Local designer Kay Li said the look was less formal but more approachable, calling it “a style that would make people want to talk to her”.
Elegant ‘Auntie Peng’ charms her young audience at Hong Kong kindergarten
The centre’s senior supervisor, Helen Fong Wai-mun, said Peng met with more than 10 residents.
“They interacted in a relaxed manner. The first lady chatted with the elderly people, made some handicrafts and took photos together,” Fong said.
Peng also asked the residents, who were about 80 years old, about their lives at the centre and what they usually did there. “They were very happy to meet the VIP,” Fong added.

The Labour and Welfare Bureau said in a statement that Peng viewed the facilities inside the centre accompanied by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui Wai-keung and Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip Man-kuen.
“At the rehabilitation room, Peng was briefed by an occupational therapist on the use of innovative rehabilitation devices in therapeutic training for the elderly,” the statement said.
“She then proceeded to the complex hall to watch the drawing and making of handicrafts by the elderly residents. Peng mingled with them and took part in the making of pop-up cards. To express gratitude for her visit, two elderly representatives presented her with their drawings.”
Peng gave the centre a high-tech scale and a television set as gifts before leaving.
As she left, she waved to journalists across the road before getting into her vehicle, but did not say anything to them.
Peng, president of the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Art, enlisted as a soldier of literature and arts in Shandong in 1980. She studied at the China Conservatory of Music and graduated with a master’s degree in 1990. She has toured the world as the country’s top soprano to promote Chinese opera and music.
Additional reporting by Viola Zhou


Why Canadian university’s Cantonese language course is 85% Mandarin speakers

Hong Kong luxury real estate: how a European agent won US$30.45 million penthouse listing

How Taishan learned to absorb the world

The great Chinese New Year divide and how I bridged it

Cantonese

Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan trades ‘punches’ and Cantonese with Hong Kong elderly residents

First lady Peng Liyuan (in black) trades fake punches with an elderly resident. Photo: ISD

Peng Liyuan waves to the media when she arrives the elderly home in Aberdeen on Friday morning. Felix Wong / SCMP

Police guards outside elderly home in Aberdeen prior to Peng Liyuan's arrival. Felix Wong / SCMP

Peng Liyuan arrives at the elderly centre in Aberdeen on Friday. Felix Wong / SCMP

Elegant ‘Auntie Peng’ charms her young audience at Hong Kong kindergarten

Peng Liyuan kisses a pupil after receiving a sounvenir, much to the delight of Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee (back, right), wife of Hong Kong Chief Execurtive Leung Chun-ying and principal Lee Ming-chu. Photo: ISD

China's First Lady Peng Liyuan looks at Chinese President Xi Jinping upon their arrival, in front of Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam (back L), in Hong Kong, China June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

US First Lady Melania Trump (R) and President Donald Trump (2nd R) pose with Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (L) upon their arrival to the Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON

Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan, to add a dash of glamour to Hong Kong visit

Peng Liyuan will join President Xi Jinping on his visit to Hong Kong. Photo: Xinhua

(L-R, front) Paula Tsui, CE Donald Tsang, singer Peng Liyuan, President Hu Jiantao, pianist Lang Lang, Politburo alternate member of CPCCC and singer Alan Tam perform in the finale of HKSAR 10th anniversary celebration event: Grand Variety Show at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 30 June 2007

How China’s first lady fashions diplomacy with signature looks

Chinese president Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan have arrived in Hong Kong to mark the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to China. We take a look at Peng’s favourite looks and statement pieces

[FOR STYLE ONLINE USE, PENG LIYUAN STYLE_Jacket]

[FOR STYLE ONLINE USE, PENG LIYUAN STYLE_Chioniserie]

China's President Xi Jinping (C) and his wife Peng Liyuan (front R) are greeted by Hong Kong's outgoing Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (L) and wellwishers upon their arrival at Hong Kong's international airport on June 29, 2017. Xi arrived in Hong Kong on June 29 to mark 20 years since it was handed back to China by Britain, with leading democracy activists already in police custody after a protest in the politically divided city. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony WALLACE

[FOR STYLE ONLINE USE, PENG LIYUAN STYLE_Blue]

[FOR STYLE ONLINE USE, PENG LIYUAN STYLE_Scarves]

[FOR STYLE ONLINE USE, PENG LIYUAN STYLE_Pearls]

Hong Kong’s PLA garrison stages biggest military parade in 20 years as Xi Jinping inspects troops

President Xi Jinping inspected People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang

President Xi inspected People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong on Friday. Photo: Pool

Hong Kong's People's Liberation Army soldiers prepare to parade prior to the arrival of Chinaese President Xi Jinping in Hong Kong on June 30, 2017. Xi tours a garrison of Hong Kong's People's Liberation Army garrison as part of a landmark visit to the politically divided city. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony WALLACE

People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong . Photo: Sam Tsang

‘Hello, chairman’: Hong Kong PLA troops break tradition with new greeting for President Xi Jinping

President Xi inspected the People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang

President Xi inspected People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Resident of home for the elderly ‘spars’ with President Xi’s wife, who responds with a burst of the local dialect


Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan trades ‘punches’ and Cantonese with Hong Kong elderly residents

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Resident of home for the elderly ‘spars’ with President Xi’s wife, who responds with a burst of the local dialect

Resident of home for the elderly ‘spars’ with President Xi’s wife, who responds with a burst of the local dialect