https://www.scmp.com/rss/11315/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo Norman Foster is in high spirits as he strolls into a meeting room on the 15th floor of the HSBC Main Building on Hong Kong’s Queen’s Road Central. Flying into the city the previous evening, the 90-year-old British architect is in town to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a project that catapulted his firm from small-scale UK residences to global skyscrapers, airports and stadiums. In 1979, Foster and Partners won an international competition to design the fourth iteration of the Hongkong and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/3349891/how-norman-foster-sees-his-hsbc-building-40-years-after-hong-kong-icon-was-born?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/3349891/how-norman-foster-sees-his-hsbc-building-40-years-after-hong-kong-icon-was-born?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:15:15 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo As soon as we descended upon the northern Japanese city of Akita, I knew I had brought the wrong clothes for this July holiday. I read that the country was supposed to be cooler during the rainy season and was looking forward to some respite from Hong Kong's humidity. As it turned out, there was no escaping the sweltering heat. We went to Senshu Park, a scenic urban park in the heart of the city. A lady selling colourful handmade silk apparel and accessories caught my eye as we crossed the moat... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3331420/stroll-around-akita-japans-northern-city-full-history-folk-culture-and-food?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3331420/stroll-around-akita-japans-northern-city-full-history-folk-culture-and-food?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo I am obsessed with bringing back jewellery from almost every place I travel to, from delicate round earrings and a bracelet from Taxco, southwest of Mexico City and a town celebrated for its silversmiths, to chunky designer trumpet-shaped earrings from a hole in the wall on La Rambla in Barcelona. My latest purchase is a beautiful pair of undulating discs sculpted from tin by Otera Katsura, founder of jewellery and homeware brand Kohachiro, which I bought from Otera’s shop at Antique Gallery... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329358/hidden-gem-takaoka-japan-celebration-metalwork-old-and-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329358/hidden-gem-takaoka-japan-celebration-metalwork-old-and-new?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo Shinsegae Centum City in the South Korean city of Busan is the world’s largest department store, with nearly 700 shops across 16 floors. But I’m not here for retail therapy. I’m here for Spa Land. From just 17,000 won (US$12), visitors to the high-end jjimjilbang – traditional South Korean bathhouse – can enjoy saunas, steam rooms, a salt room, plunge pools, baths, a restaurant and more. But what every hardcore spa-goer comes here for, are the ajummas’ body scrubs, for which a South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3323216/what-do-spa-land-busan-south-korea-body-scrubs-plunge-pools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3323216/what-do-spa-land-busan-south-korea-body-scrubs-plunge-pools?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 23:15:10 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo At the inaugural exhibition of the Tzu Chi Environmental Action Centre in Hong Kong’s Tai Wai neighbourhood in 2021, one particular installation stood out: a school of more than 100 suspended sharks made from wood that had been entirely salvaged. It was an effective and subtle way to convey the message from its creator, Lam Che, that trees and sea creatures share space with those who use and discard them with little thought. Lam, who is in his mid-60s, began salvaging fallen trees and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/3314141/how-sustainable-wood-furniture-maker-hong-kong-turns-fallen-trees-unique-pieces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/3314141/how-sustainable-wood-furniture-maker-hong-kong-turns-fallen-trees-unique-pieces?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 04:45:07 +0000 During a family trip to Alameda, California, in the early 1980s, we were lounging after breakfast in my aunt’s house when a tall Eurasian lady entered nonchalantly through the back door and made herself at home. She introduced herself as Auntie Mamie and proceeded to share stories about her memories of Hong Kong. It was not until many years later that I realised this woman was Mamie Ho, cousin of Stanley Ho, the late tycoon and owner of Macau’s Hotel Lisboa. I never realised how significant a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3300033/shades-vegas-macau-pleasure-palace-hotel-lisboa-focal-point-city-55-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3300033/shades-vegas-macau-pleasure-palace-hotel-lisboa-focal-point-city-55-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:15:09 +0000 Hidden away in Hong Kong’s industrial buildings, a legion of dedicated craftspeople ply their trade – as they have done over the years in time-honoured fashion. As they toil to preserve a truly Hong Kong legacy, the next generation are looking to make their mark with their own twist on timeless traditions. Whether it is Tai Ping Carpets’ collaborations with young artisans such as Lim+Lu, or Nana Chan’s efforts to introduce tea appreciation through Teakha, traditional Chinese crafts are being... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3160952/meet-hong-kong-artists-preserving-traditional-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3160952/meet-hong-kong-artists-preserving-traditional-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Dec 2021 04:00:19 +0000 As the year draws to a close, many of us are taking extra care when getting ready for the holidays. After months of working from home, we have become acutely aware of our surroundings and how interiors can affect – and inspire – our well-being. The trends this festive season continue to focus on the home as a place that needs to wear different hats for different occasions. The common denominator is responsible consumption – and that means investing in cherished pieces that spark joy while adding... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3113612/year-covid-19-taught-us-what-really-matters-thats-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3113612/year-covid-19-taught-us-what-really-matters-thats-why?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Dec 2020 00:00:06 +0000 Patrons of Forum Restaurant in Hong Kong’s Sino Plaza all know there is one wall near the entrance that must be viewed. On it, there is a photo from the late 1970s depicting Forum’s first incarnation in Causeway Bay, a stone’s throw away from its current location. There are photos of Jean Chrétien and Alain Juppé, former prime ministers of Canada and France, respectively, shaking hands with Yeung Koon-yat. And, there are framed letters praising Yeung’s sumptuous abalone signed by the likes of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3050591/meet-yeung-koon-yat-abalone-king-who-served-deng?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3050591/meet-yeung-koon-yat-abalone-king-who-served-deng?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Feb 2020 04:00:08 +0000 I used to go for breakfast with my aunt once a week when I first began working in Hong Kong. We would head to our favourite shop off Tung Lo Wan Road, and park ourselves on a couple of stools facing the street. There was no need for the menu – I would always order sampan congee, and she always had plain congee with a side of stir-fried noodles. Ho Hung Kee has a reputation as a neighbourhood congee and noodle joint like the one I frequented. Founded by Ho Wing-fong and his family, it started as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3044941/we-review-ho-hung-kee-hong-kong-congee-and-noodle-joint-has?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3044941/we-review-ho-hung-kee-hong-kong-congee-and-noodle-joint-has?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2020 08:00:07 +0000 Passion with a purpose is what defines successful entrepreneurs. We try to source locally as much as possible – the ceramics that we serve food upon were designed and made for Song Saa, and inspired by Cambodian culture Melita Koulmandas I first met Rory Hunter and Melita Koulmandas Hunter nearly a decade ago when they were completing a resort on the twin islands of Song Saa in Koh Rong, near the Cambodian beach town of Sihanoukville. Song Saa Private Island was a project born out of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3024899/how-cambodias-five-star-song-saa-private-island-leads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3024899/how-cambodias-five-star-song-saa-private-island-leads?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Aug 2019 18:00:10 +0000 Patience is a virtue when it comes to acquiring property in Hong Kong. For years, Tai Kok Tsui natives Gloria and Alan Wong had coveted a particular 1,000 sq ft flat in the area. The unit’s location was convenient: above Olympic MTR station, it would be within easy reach of his IT job and her audit post. Its size was generous: the couple, who are avid divers, needed ample storage for all their gear plus a home office. And its aspect was excep­tional: because the residence faces west and is on a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/design-interiors/article/3015012/nautical-inspired-hong-kong-flat-reflects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/design-interiors/article/3015012/nautical-inspired-hong-kong-flat-reflects?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:45:03 +0000 Toronto-based Canada Goose is suffering against the backdrop of a wider US-China trade dispute as its share price has fallen from C$90 (US$67.7) in December to C$65 soon after the luxury Canadian retailer opened its first Chinese store in Beijing. Here are four facts about a retailer known for its down jackets. Is Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou fashion's newest influencer? 1. Ontario’s police used to be its best clients In 1957, Polish emigrant Sam Tick founded Metro Sportswear, the precursor to Canada... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion-beauty/article/2185835/why-people-are-breaking-law-get-their-hands-canada?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion-beauty/article/2185835/why-people-are-breaking-law-get-their-hands-canada?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Feb 2019 08:28:52 +0000 In today’s scroll up and down culture, technology is bound to filter into the arena of luxury hotels. Countering most operators offering a range of personalised experiences is a growing trend of establishments that feature check-in through an app, swipe-able light switches, a multilingual robotic dinosaur concierge, or a lunar resort designed for rain-free holidays. 1. Bangkok: Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 Launched in late 2011 in the heart of Bangkok, this Aloft property is the grand dame of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2185690/5-hi-tech-hotels-asia-use-robot-concierges-and-apps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2185690/5-hi-tech-hotels-asia-use-robot-concierges-and-apps?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Feb 2019 04:00:15 +0000 Chunwan, CCTV’s annual gala that is aired on the eve of Lunar New Year, has been the mainstay of Chinese families around the globe ever since it was first broadcast on the network in 1983. The show has been equated to turkey at Thanksgiving: it may not be for everyone, but without it, the festive atmosphere would be missing something crucial. 11 quirky Singaporean Lunar New Year treats to try Broadcast on national and local channels, Chunwan draws millions of viewers each year, and according to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2184308/why-chunwan-chinas-lunar-new-year-gala-worlds-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2184308/why-chunwan-chinas-lunar-new-year-gala-worlds-most?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Feb 2019 01:00:00 +0000 AT A CELEBRITY-STUDDED store opening at the Landmark last December, two men in black seemed dazed by the high-wattage staging. Yet, although clearly not fashionistas, they were pivotal to the dramatic set-up that made the retail space as much of an attraction as its luxury products. Both are architects and the store is a Louis Vuitton boutique. Tokyo-based Jun Aoki created a 12-metre-high facade assembled from 7,000 steel louvers printed with the familiar LV chequer-board pattern. New Yorker... https://www.scmp.com/article/536778/art-and-parcel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/536778/art-and-parcel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:00:00 +0000 Their designs are striking, in fuchsias, emeralds and cobalts, and feature intricately detailed pastoral scenes. And for one veteran tour guide, these Qing dynasty Han and minorities' costumes and accessories are also collectibles that reflect the economic changes on the mainland during the past three decades. According to 57-year-old collector Don Cohn, every item tells a story on a multitude of levels: the expertise of the woman who embroidered it; the culture that provided the... https://www.scmp.com/article/535142/material-world-embroidery-conserves-cultural-threads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/535142/material-world-embroidery-conserves-cultural-threads?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Feb 2006 16:00:00 +0000 Michael Chen's black and white photographs of religious architecture are like a tour of the world's sacred wonders. Atmospheric, accessible and with strong use of light and shadow, they embrace all religions with equal reverence. Yet rare among his collection are images of churches, although he was a dedicated Catholic until the age of 19. 'I was baptised a Catholic,' says the 53-year-old. 'My mother was very devout and influenced my dad. But when I went to university in the US, I started to... https://www.scmp.com/article/530528/faithfully-photographing-religious-sites-here-eternity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/530528/faithfully-photographing-religious-sites-here-eternity?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Dec 2005 16:00:00 +0000 They look hauntingly empty yet strangely full of life. These assembly halls, scattered all over the mainland, used to be where ordinary people were 'put on trial' during the Cultural Revolution. They are also venues that have inspired a husband-and-wife photographic team to trek across the country, documenting their personal experiences of the period - and a big chapter in China's history - before these places vanish forever. Shao Yinong and his wife Muchen came up with the idea of... https://www.scmp.com/article/529793/halls-infamy-reveal-gallery-ghosts-political-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/529793/halls-infamy-reveal-gallery-ghosts-political-past?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Dec 2005 16:00:00 +0000 There's a saying in Italian: 'to be sick with glass'. But this is a welcome affliction for a growing number of people who are rediscovering the beauty of this most traditional material. In response to the trend, Galerie Vee will showcase a collection by six American glass artists. The theme of Art in the Party is glassware used for entertaining - such as wine goblets, candleholders and vases. 'The pulse of the studio glass movement is in the US now,' says 36-year-old Vanessa Lee... https://www.scmp.com/article/519688/no-pane-no-gain-which-rather-blow-party-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/519688/no-pane-no-gain-which-rather-blow-party-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:00:00 +0000 Can a woman be complete without experiencing motherhood? The question intrigues Ann New and inspired the art works in her latest show, Perchance, at Sin Sin Fine Art. The installation was performed live at the opening recently. With brush in one hand and palette in the other, the mainland artist scaled a ladder to paint on the reverse side of a four-metre high pane of glass. New obviously relished the spontaneity of the moment. She mixed colours into the black ink paintings, adding... https://www.scmp.com/article/516716/perchance-dream-motherhoods-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/516716/perchance-dream-motherhoods-role?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Sep 2005 16:00:00 +0000 It's noisy, colourful and stands in sharp contrast to slick SoHo. Every summer, the Yue Lan or Hungry Ghost Festival dominates Central for a day. Elderly women spend hours folding gold and silver paper into bullion. To ward off the restless spirits, roast suckling pig and fruit are offered, along with paper Lear jets and Rolls-Royces. The culmination of the event is the burning of the paper offerings in the evening, to keep the ghosts at bay for another year. Yet this year may have been the... https://www.scmp.com/article/514747/ghosts-central-past-mount-spirited-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/514747/ghosts-central-past-mount-spirited-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Sep 2005 16:00:00 +0000 With its international content, multi-textured layout and CD-Rom giveaways, IdN (International Designer Network) magazine has drawn a loyal following of readers in cities in North America, Europe and Asia. In Hong Kong, however, the numbers tell a different story. Yet the surprise is that this bi-monthly magazine is actually edited and published in the SAR, a place better known for its designer labels and street level-urban designs. Established by local designer Laurence Ng, 13 years ago,... https://www.scmp.com/article/505977/geek-sleek-how-backroom-nerd-mag-went-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/505977/geek-sleek-how-backroom-nerd-mag-went-global?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:00:00 +0000 Australia - Art & About Various galleries Reviewed: June 17 Hot on the heels of Le French May and Italy 2005: Quality & Lifestyle, Australia - Art & About features 23 of the country's artists in nine galleries. Aboriginal works, glass, sculpture and pieces more 'out there' than the typical SoHo fare are loosely strung together with a wry sense humour. Gaffer Studio Glass hosted the event's opening, with a diverse glass display that ranged from purely ornamental sculpture to vases and... https://www.scmp.com/article/505287/australia-art-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/505287/australia-art-about?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jun 2005 16:00:00 +0000 IFC Mall Reviewed: June 3 One man's junk is another man's treasure, but Italian sculptor Roberto Cipollone, alias 'Ciro', goes one step further by transforming discarded rubbish into compositions of landscapes, portraits and objects. Cipollone's inaugural exhibition in Hong Kong is part of Italy 2005: Quality & Lifestyle, a week-long celebration that includes music, fashion, food, wine and film. Cipollone established his workshop, Bottega di Ciro, in Loppiano in 1982. He creates... https://www.scmp.com/article/503412/ciro-art-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/503412/ciro-art-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jun 2005 16:00:00 +0000 Family Matters The Theban Plays Fringe Studio Theatre Last show tonight For their 21st anniversary production at the Fringe Club, Performance Exchange turns to the classics for inspiration. Adapted from Sophocles' dramas, The Theban Plays is one of two productions Daniel Foley and Risako Ataka created for the 2005 Hong Kong City Fringe Arts Festival. First performed during the classical Greek period 2,500 years ago, Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone are the epitome of western... https://www.scmp.com/article/487355/timeless-tales-reveal-their-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/487355/timeless-tales-reveal-their-power?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:00:00 +0000 THE EIGHTH FLOOR of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is buzzing with sweaty industry. Selina Chau, a coryphee (lead dancer) with the Hong Kong Ballet, is reviewing Beautiful That Way, a 15-minute piece she choreographed. Her movements are sure and precise, with strong contemporary influences. Principal dancers Faye Leung and Nobuo Fujino mimic them with ease. Suddenly, Fujino throws in a playful leap. The trio break concentration, laugh and start over. Chau works with them for another half an... https://www.scmp.com/article/486566/steps-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/486566/steps-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:00:00 +0000 MID-CONVERSATION, Patrick Lee is interrupted by a gaggle of eager polytechnic students led into the Art Statements gallery to see his show by their instructor, installation artist Kith Tsang. 'Isn't this great?' says Lee, who jumps up and starts photographing the students as they tour the exhibition. 'It's nice of Kith to bring them here. You should talk to him, too.' Tsang and Lee are old friends. They were part of a group of seven artists who co-founded Para/Site Art Space in 1996. 'We... https://www.scmp.com/article/486569/snapshots-faith?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/486569/snapshots-faith?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:00:00 +0000 Gerard Bookle's four-year-old golden retriever Lucky leaps enthusiastically out of the bright North Point flat - and miraculously doesn't upset any of the canvases strewn about the artist's home studio. The whole place shouts 'work in progress'. Splatters of acrylic paints and lacquers dot the original 1950s floor tiles. Bookle darts back and forth from painting to collage as he prepares for his first solo exhibition at Sin Sin Fine Art. The London native, better known for creating murals... https://www.scmp.com/article/484814/wall-refreshing-brush-supernatural?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/484814/wall-refreshing-brush-supernatural?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Jan 2005 16:00:00 +0000 THE FUZZY LINE between fine and commercial art blurred even more with the opening of Lane Crawford's new store in November. While art is often seen in fine restaurants and high-end hotels, the new flagship store at Two IFC marked the first time a retailer had commissioned artwork specifically for its shop in Hong Kong. The 82,000sqft space cost more than $100 million, with a large sum going directly into fine and applied art. It is Lane Crawford's biggest expenditure since the 1997 Asian... https://www.scmp.com/article/483926/art-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/483926/art-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Jan 2005 16:00:00 +0000 ARCHITECT FRANK GEHRY is known around the world for major, avant-garde public works such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, but he's never worked in China - where big projects demand big names. In fact, Gehry's recent visit as the Hong Kong Business of Design Week's closing keynote speaker was his first time in Hong Kong, having taken part at the suggestion of Swire Properties, which hired him to design a museum complex for its West... https://www.scmp.com/article/479973/beyond-bilbao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/479973/beyond-bilbao?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Nov 2004 16:00:00 +0000 Creativity will be to the fore in the next few weeks as Hong Kong plays host to three international cultural and design conferences. Dozens of the biggest names in their fields will join officials and politicians from across Asia in what has been dubbed 'Creative November'. 'It looks like a Formula One race,' says John Bowden, former director of the Hong Kong Design Centre. 'It makes Hong Kong look important.' The first will be the government-sponsored Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2004... https://www.scmp.com/article/477755/conferences-set-make-it-creative-november?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/477755/conferences-set-make-it-creative-november?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Nov 2004 16:00:00 +0000 The Philharmonia of the Nations made a triumphant debut in Hong Kong four years ago, bringing their mini-United Nations of musicians to local audiences. So, their return on Tuesday is much anticipated. Founder Justus Frantz has an impressive classical pedigree. Born in Poland to a musical family, he gravitated towards the keyboards from the age of four. At a time when most children were still learning how to add, he was counting in rhyme and metre. 'Everyone in my family loved music,' ... https://www.scmp.com/article/476181/friendship-tour-brings-harmony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/476181/friendship-tour-brings-harmony?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Oct 2004 16:00:00 +0000