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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 did China’s dan dan mian noodle dish become so popular in Japan?
It seems an unlikely match. Japanese cuisine traditionally venerates light, clean flavours and the essence of each ingredient. So how did the country end up having such a spicy love affair with the dish?
2. Is the Year of the Snake’s 12th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signs

What do the stars have in store for each of the 12 zodiac animal signs in the last month of the Year of the Snake?
3. 3 of Hong Kong martial arts legend Alexander Fu Sheng’s more unusual movies

Alexander Fu Sheng, who died in a car crash in 1983 aged 28, is best remembered for his Shaolin kung fu films, such as 1974’s Heroes Two. But the martial arts star, born Cheung Fu-sheng, also expanded his range through his short career, performing in modern-day actioners like Chinatown Kid and kung fu comedies.
4. What does AI predict will happen in the fiery Year of the Horse 2026?
So, what do some of the world’s most advanced AI “oracles” predict for the fiery year ahead? We asked DeepSeek, Perplexity and Gemini.
5. Is this ‘unlucky’ chocolate mahjong set cultural appropriation?

Mahjong has been an integral part of Chinese social life since its invention in the mid-1800s, during the late Qing dynasty. It took less than a century to reach the West, with a simplified playing system developing in the United States in the 1920s.
6. Was Chinese princess sent to marry a Malaysian sultan a real person?
Hang Li Po’s 15th-century marriage allegedly sealed Malacca and China’s friendly relations. Proof of her existence is scant. Does it matter?
7. When dementia steals the right words, the ‘wrong’ ones speak volumes
Experts say dementia patients often lose the ability to communicate, but the metaphors they use can help carers better understand them.


US, Iran sign peace deal; China’s C919 jets grounded for safety checks: SCMP’s 7 highlights

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

PLA’s plan to destroy US carriers; world’s largest whale graveyard: 7 science highlights

Korean’s racist World Cup experience, India’s military revamp: 7 Asia highlights

SCMP Highlights

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

Chinese zodiac predictions, secrets to a long and healthy life: 5 Lifestyle highlights

Find out what is in store for your Chinese zodiac animal in the coming month with predictions from fortune-teller Andrew Kwan. Photo: Shutterstock

Dai Jun heads the kitchen at Lamdre in Beijing, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant that sits at the vanguard of the Chinese vegetarian food scene. Photo: Lamdre

The Three Stallions, by Xu Beihong. The piece is just one example of the many horse paintings that Xu was known for.

Lifestyle

Chinese Zodiac

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Food & Drink

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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


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.


Japan

China

Malaysia

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

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}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

1. How did China’s dan dan mian noodle dish become so popular in Japan?

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