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SCMP

We have selected five Trending in China 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. The Song dynasty was a great time for China. But a terrible one for many women
While the Song dynasty saw huge advancements in culture, commerce and technology, it also gave rise to the horrific practice of foot binding.
2. Where do witch hats come from? China’s Tarim mummies may hold the answer

The witch hat can be seen everywhere, from Halloween costumes to Hollywood films. But what many may not know is that a particular group of “witches” in northwestern China have, for decades, haunted historians and anthropologists with questions relating to the origins of the headgear and early human migration.
3. Best things to eat in Shunde, China’s ‘cradle of Cantonese cuisine’

Shunde, a district of the city of Foshan in China’s Guangdong province, is one of those places where you can eat good food, but you can eat great food if you know an insider.
4. Want to live longer? How new drugs, AI and better habits can extend lifespan
Million-dollar longevity clinics, IV drips, personalised genome sequencing – the quest for a longer, healthier life often feels like a science fiction movie with an exclusive ticket price.
5. Singaporean executive lost 19kg in 7 months after health wake-up. How?

When Terri Cheong failed the premedical check for a blood donation drive in January due to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the Singapore-based finance executive decided to take charge of her health – and her life.


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SCMP Highlights

China’s Song dynasty, the origin of witch hats: 5 Lifestyle highlights

Grand Marshal Zhao Kuangyin is proclaimed Emperor of the Song Dynasty on the battlefield after the Chenqiao mutiny in 960 in an illustration from Hutchinson’s History of the Nations, published in 1915. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Princess of Xiaohe is one of the most famous mummies found in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, China. Can the origins of the modern witch hat be traced to this region? Photo: Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

Steamed “unforgettable” empurau fish belly at Jiang Shun Seafood Restaurant, in Shunde. Hong Kong chef Silas Li calls the area in Foshan, Guangdong province, his second home. Photo: Hei-kiu Au

Terri Cheong saw her weight fall 19kg from February 2025 (left) to September 2025 (right) through strength training and a diet overhaul. Photo: Ultimate Performance

As Back to the Future turns 40, Michael J. Fox on the time-travel sci-fi’s enduring appeal

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in a still from Back to the Future (1985). Fox reflects on the landmark sci-fi film as it turns 40 years old. Photo: Universal Pictures via AP

Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry at an event in New York to promote Fox’s new book. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Michael J. Fox in a still from Back to the Future. Photo: Facebook/Do You Remember?

Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson at the Back to the Future 25th anniversary reunion in New York in 2010. Photo: AP

China’s prosperous Tang dynasty, what to eat in Putian: 7 Lifestyle highlights

A photo shot by Enoch Ho, included as one of the pieces in his collection for the exhibition. Photo: Enoch Ho

Hongkonger Kaylie Lau stands outside Kalan Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo: Kaylie Lau

Wrestlers practise a move at a Hong Kong Wrestling Federation Pro Wrestling training session. A leader of the group talks about an upcoming event and why he wants people “to enjoy the experience”. Photo: Jonathan Wong

A local twist on pho at Putian restaurant Fen Tang Qiang Vietnamese Rice Noodles. The Chinese city’s food mixes centuries-old tradition and innovation. We share where to find it at its best. Photo: Putien Restaurant Group

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People & Culture

Trending in China

From the Song dynasty’s lasting influence to what to eat in China’s Shunde, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting


From the Song dynasty’s lasting influence to what to eat in China’s Shunde, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.


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China’s Song dynasty, the origin of witch hats: 5 Lifestyle highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From the Song dynasty’s lasting influence to what to eat in China’s Shunde, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. The Song dynasty was a great time for China. But a terrible one for many women

From the Song dynasty’s lasting influence to what to eat in China’s Shunde, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting