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During the Ming dynasty, individuals sentenced to flogging could hire substitutes, known as Qingshou, to endure the punishment for a fee. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu

People & Culture

Ancient Chinese sentenced to flogging could hire others to take punishment for fee

Brutal centuries-old penal system saw lawbreakers beaten to death with iron-wrapped hammer fitted with barbs.

Jar burials: a glimpse into ancient China’s compassion for infant deaths

‘Fat for beef’: China drive gives people 0.5kg of meat for same amount of weight lost

Trending in China

China sailor creates ‘radio station’ to connect families with seamen stranded in Strait of Hormuz

‘Frightened’ sailor tells wife of conflict tension on board Singaporean commercial ship stuck close to land on war-torn waterway.

A Chinese sailor near the banks of the Strait of Hormuz has created a temporary “home letter radio station” as many ships remain stranded and unable to contact families in China due to poor telecom signals. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
A Chinese sailor near the banks of the Strait of Hormuz has created a temporary “home letter radio station” as many ships remain stranded and unable to contact families in China due to poor telecom signals. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

China Personalities

‘Real-life Cinderella’: China stuntwoman goes from playing body double to stardom

Folk dancing exponent who fell into film industry by chance not fazed by being called a lookalike; says failure to perform is biggest worry.

China Personalities

Debate as Taiwan singer shows popular ‘vacuum belly’ method to lose weight

Onstage protruding ribs routine provokes roars of appreciation from audience; doctors warn it could damage people’s health.

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Trending in China

China girl, 12, uses lai see money to buy shop, pays mum US$440 to run it for her

Entrepreneurial youngster juggles schoolwork with mapping out business strategies, dealing with suppliers; online observers tip her for the top.

A 12-year-old girl in China used her lai see money and savings to buy a stationery shop and then hired her mother to run it for her. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
A 12-year-old girl in China used her lai see money and savings to buy a stationery shop and then hired her mother to run it for her. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

People & Culture

How China ethnic minority groups use small chicken bones to predict fortunes

Ancient ritual sees birds battered to death with a hammer then thrown out of the home; in offshoot custom, boiled egg yolk can determine luck.

Trending in China

China woman uses AI-made man to lecture on respecting science, rejecting superstition

Non-existent retired professor who ‘lectures’ on parent-child relationships gathers online support from 200,000 followers.

China Personalities

China warship’s sole female top officer tells women to prioritise professional skills

Poised, confident senior officer adopts role of ‘evil instructor’ on board; is also known for her ‘caring’ attitude towards crew members.

Zhu Yuemeng, 36, is the only female senior officer on China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Sohu

China Personalities

Iraqi reporter raised in China, famous for viral dance, to marry Xinjiang woman

Journalist who grew up knowing only war and conflict in the Middle East yearns for peace in the region; his catchphrase is ‘I envy Chinese’.

An Iraqi journalist who went viral in China for performing the Subject 3 dance has become engaged to a woman from Xinjiang. He moved to China at the age of 11. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin
An Iraqi journalist who went viral in China for performing the Subject 3 dance has become engaged to a woman from Xinjiang. He moved to China at the age of 11. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin

Trending in China

China pet shop boss finds dumped cat with note, cash from elderly facing surgery

Story of kitten in a pet carrier containing clean food bowls left by owner no longer physically able to care for it moves millions online.

Trending in China

‘Cyber heartbreak’ sweeps China social media, users grieve ‘loss’ of AI partners

As tech industry switches from emotional companionship to more calculating interactions, ‘grieving’ netizens pen eulogies for AI partners.

China Personalities

Iran boxing coach leaves China job, returns home to be with family despite risks

Skilled and responsible fight trainer says if he is going to die, it will be with his relatives in Tehran; gym boss pays for flight into war zone.

A 33-year-old boxing coach from Iran left his secure job in China to return to Tehran and be with his family due to the war. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Trending in China

China single mum starts business with US$100, runs clothing brand, earns millions

Mother of one sleeps just 4 hours a night to build street market business that becomes chain with shops in cities nationwide.

A single mother in China who started with next to nothing running a street stall now runs a successful “new Chinese-style clothing” brand which rakes in tens of millions a year. Photo: Weibo
A single mother in China who started with next to nothing running a street stall now runs a successful “new Chinese-style clothing” brand which rakes in tens of millions a year. Photo: Weibo

Trending in China

China game shop slammed for using live hamsters in claw machine, also fish, turtles

Images of real furry little animals displaying clear signs of stress as they cower in fear inside arcade machine spark online anger.

videocam

Trending in China

Chinese man posts a big note on mum-in-law’s suitcase to help her on solo travels

Thoughtful son-in-law goes the extra mile to make sure illiterate woman in her 60s is safe; Good Samaritan student on same flight offers help.

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People & Culture

Indonesian wife, 24, surprised husband, 62, was groom at event she attended at 9

After a young Indonesian woman married a much older man who had wed twice before, she realised they had met at one of his other nuptials when she was a child.

A 19-year-old Indonesian woman finds out after marrying a man aged 57, that she attended a previous wedding of his when she was just nine years old. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
A 19-year-old Indonesian woman finds out after marrying a man aged 57, that she attended a previous wedding of his when she was just nine years old. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com

China Personalities

Profile | Mystery Chinese woman steals show at 2024 Cannes Film Festival, but who is she?

A mystery woman from China, who stole the show on the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has been revealed to be a rich online influencer and wife of a famous mainland musician.

Trending in China

Singaporean influencer becomes grandmother at 34, jokes that she ‘inspired’ son

A popular online influencer in Singapore who has become a grandmother at the age of 34 has pledged to support and guide her 17-year-old son.

Trending in China

Man has child by surrogate without telling family as he wants to be grandfather

A 50-something woman in China was shocked to find a baby in her home when she got in from work one day, and that the child belonged to her husband who had hired a surrogacy agency without telling her.

A man had secretly hired a surrogacy agency to get a baby girl after his only daughter told him she did not want to have children. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Foot binding in China: tales from Yunnan women who underwent the practice

Foot binding in China: tales from Yunnan women who underwent the practice

Foot binding may seem abhorrent today but the resulting deformity once conveyed privilege and status, say some of the women who experienced the pain firsthand. 

Reading Time:8 minutes
Wang Zhenxi, aka Teacher Wang, is a mistress dispeller based in Luoyang, Henan province. Photo: courtesy Mistress Dispeller

This Hong Kong-raised director makes films about outsiders – as she’s one too

Reading Time:6 minutes
Apple Chui, assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at Chinese University. Photo: courtesy of Coral Academy

Hong Kong has more coral reef species than the Caribbean – and they’re worth saving

Reading Time:4 minutes
The Teng Hoi at anchor in the Goto Islands. Photo: Cameron Dueck

The quiet Japanese islands where Christians once hid their religion

Reading Time:6 minutes
Jane Houng set up charity Becky’s Button to provide women at risk with a panic button after her daughter Rebecca Dykes was murdered in Lebanon in 2017. Photo: Bella Galliano-Hale

Jane Houng: musician, author – and mother of a murdered child

Reading Time:4 minutes
The Tower of Heavenly Success with the Tan River in the background, in Majianglong, Taishan. Photo: Graeme Kennedy

The Chinese city where waffles, watchtowers and world history meet

Reading Time:8 minutes
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MULTIMEDIA
Article

Stalking, illegal tracking, assault: is China’s fan culture off the rails?

When obsession tips over into stalking a number of studies have found that the stalked celebrity often represented an idealised version of the stalker. Photo: CGTN
Article

His son’s rare disease turned this Chinese father into a home-grown drug-maker

Despite having only a high-school education, a father in Kunming taught himself how to produce drugs for his son who suffers from Menkes disease. Photo: Weibo
Video

Zip line ‘retires’ after 20 years in China

Thrilling commuter zip line ‘retires’ in southwest China after 20 years
02:35
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China’s female comedians tackle stereotypes

China’s new wave of young women stand-up comedians tackle stereotypes
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