https://www.scmp.com/rss/164007/feed Lunar New Year is celebrated across China and in many parts of Asia and the world where Chinese communities can be found. It is often marked by time off work or school and includes family visits, meals together, and games like mahjong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. In the second month of the Year of the Fire Horse, those born under some zodiac signs may face setbacks with a hidden benefactor, while others may have to contend with gossip and fatigue. There will be those who thrive through teamwork and romance, while others will encounter challenges that require resilience to overcome. Read on to see what is on the cards for your zodiac sign this... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3347549/year-horse-second-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-your-luck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3347549/year-horse-second-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-your-luck?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong welcomed 9.95 million visitors in the first two months of this year, 18 per cent more than the same period last year, with the increase driven primarily by mainland travellers visiting the city over the Chinese New Year period. Provisional figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board on Tuesday showed that 7.89 million mainland Chinese visitors travelled to the city in January and February, representing a 22 per cent year-on-year rise. They also accounted for 79.3 per cent of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346858/did-chinese-new-year-help-boost-hong-kongs-visitor-figures-january-february?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346858/did-chinese-new-year-help-boost-hong-kongs-visitor-figures-january-february?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:52:56 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s retail sales rose 5.5 per cent year on year in January, with authorities crediting inbound tourism for supporting the sector. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed sales reached HK$37.3 billion (US$4.77 billion) in January, marking the ninth straight month of growth since May 2025, after 14 consecutive months of decline. The increase ended a four-month streak of growth above 6 per cent, but the government cautioned that the slower... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345412/hong-kongs-retail-sales-rise-55-january-tourists-loosen-purse-strings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345412/hong-kongs-retail-sales-rise-55-january-tourists-loosen-purse-strings?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:07:55 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese employee became the envy of social media after she won a surprise prize of 10 days’ paid leave on the first day she returned to work from the Spring Festival holiday. On February 24, the first workday following the nine-day holiday during the Chinese New Year, a video showing the employees’ lucky draw went viral, attracting 120,000 likes and 9,000 comments. The video was taken in the renowned spicy gluten latiao company Mala Prince in central China’s Hunan province and was posted by... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344700/china-worker-wins-surprise-10-day-paid-leave-first-day-back-spring-festival-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344700/china-worker-wins-surprise-10-day-paid-leave-first-day-back-spring-festival-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 06:00:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Excitement about an influx of tourists during the recent Chinese New Year “golden week” was tarnished by the sight of some rural Hong Kong beaches being turned into congested tent cities. It is good that the authorities are considering fees and other solutions to counter holiday rushes. The problem was obvious on beaches in Sai Kung, where more than 900 tents were pitched along Ham Tin Wan. At nearby Sai Wan, nearly half of the campers had illegally pitched shelters outside designated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A traditional ceremony in a village in eastern China, where men bow and kowtow in reverence to their ancestors while women watch from the sidelines, has ignited debate over gender roles in cultural practices. In February, a viral video captured a compelling scene from Dalei village in Yanggu county, Shandong province, during the Chinese New Year holiday. The footage shows more than 600 men from the Lei clan lined up along a red carpet in front of the ancestral hall. Arranged by age and lineage,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3344612/china-village-holds-ceremony-where-600-men-bow-homage-ancestors-igniting-gender-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3344612/china-village-holds-ceremony-where-600-men-bow-homage-ancestors-igniting-gender-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China logged an overall increase in travel during the just-concluded Chinese New Year break compared with last year’s holiday period, but analysts said spending per capita stayed flat. The country saw 596 million domestic trips over the extended public holiday that ended on Monday, a year-on-year increase of 95 million, Xinhua reported. About 17.8 million cross-border trips were logged over the same period, it added. Chinese New Year is a crucial period for the travel sector as hundreds of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344699/china-sees-rise-chinese-new-year-travel-capita-spending-remains-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344699/china-sees-rise-chinese-new-year-travel-capita-spending-remains-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:08:27 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The Chinese New Year is traditionally a time for family reunions, but this year a growing number of young Chinese people chose to avoid going home. This year’s Spring Festival holiday took place between February 15 and 23, which is the longest break in recent years. The tradition of family reunion during the holiday also leads to the annual chunyun, or Spring Festival travel rush, which is known as the world’s largest human migration. This year’s chunyun lasts 40 days from February 2 to March... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3344479/china-youth-spend-spring-festival-away-nosy-relatives-take-part-time-jobs-extra-cash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3344479/china-youth-spend-spring-festival-away-nosy-relatives-take-part-time-jobs-extra-cash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models, led by those from MiniMax AI and Moonshot AI, have topped global token usage, ending a year of market dominance for US developers, according to data from OpenRouter. Online AI hosting platform OpenRouter’s latest ranking reflected the increased international demand for Chinese open-source models on its site following a series of new releases. Launched around two weeks ago, the M2.5 from Shanghai-based MiniMax emerged as the most popular AI... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3344587/chinas-minimax-moonshot-top-ai-token-use-ranking-ending-year-us-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3344587/chinas-minimax-moonshot-top-ai-token-use-ranking-ending-year-us-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:30:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan While many people in today’s China watch the state media CCTV’s gala show on Chinese New Year’s Eve, about 1,000 years ago children took part in a special and playful routine to celebrate a custom called “selling ignorance”. Known in Chinese as mai meng dong or mai chi dai, the practice began during the North Song dynasty (960-1127), a period of advancing culture and economy. It involved groups of mischievous children running through streets after eating the New Year Eve dinner and shouting... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344437/why-china-ancient-custom-requires-children-sell-ignorance-lunar-new-years-eve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344437/why-china-ancient-custom-requires-children-sell-ignorance-lunar-new-years-eve?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese company and its boss have gone viral on mainland social media for distributing 180 million yuan (US$26 million) in year-end bonuses out of 270 million yuan in profits, sparking widespread envy among netizens. On February 13, Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd. held its annual company gala, during which more than 60 million yuan (US$8.7 million) in cash bonuses were distributed on site. At the event, 800 banquet tables were set up to accommodate around 7,000 people. Employees were invited... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344466/china-boss-offers-us26-million-bonus-staff-can-take-many-bills-possible-within-set-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3344466/china-boss-offers-us26-million-bonus-staff-can-take-many-bills-possible-within-set-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu On-demand helicopter services gained momentum during the Chinese New Year amid a travel rush, giving a boost to the country’s low-altitude economy. Demand increased significantly during the hectic holiday period, with overall bookings rising nearly 1.5 times compared with normal levels, said Li Xin, a manager at Shanghai Xinkong Helicopter, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV). Capitalising on the rush, the operator launched a new route on Monday linking Shanghai with Haimen and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344484/helicopter-travel-takes-china-during-spring-festival-rush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344484/helicopter-travel-takes-china-during-spring-festival-rush?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:00:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Robots have taken another step closer to playing a mainstream role in human society with an appearance on China’s biggest holiday television show of the year. The sight of humanoids alongside flesh-and-blood performers sparked an online buying spree and offered more proof that the world must prepare for the arrival of the machines. The devices created by the nation’s leading humanoid robotics companies dominated the Spring Festival Gala last week. They did martial arts backflips, performed in a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344415/china-takes-robots-human-touch-needed-more-ever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344415/china-takes-robots-human-touch-needed-more-ever?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong Visitor numbers in Hong Kong rose about 14 per cent during the Chinese New Year holiday but more residents left the city, while local retailers reported bumper sales of gold products. Some retailers reported single purchases worth millions of Hong Kong dollars within categories such as watches and jewellery, even as the broader retail recovery remained uneven. Immigration Department figures showed trips made by visitors – from mainland China and elsewhere – rose about 14 per cent year on year to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344488/hong-kong-visitor-numbers-jump-chinese-new-year-holiday-gold-sales-shine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344488/hong-kong-visitor-numbers-jump-chinese-new-year-holiday-gold-sales-shine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:05:37 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Billed as a maverick hybrid of Cantonese opera and contemporary political satire, Trump on Show returned to the stage on February 22 with up-to-date references that included the US Supreme Court’s ruling against US President Donald Trump’s global tariffs just days prior. The fourth version of the show, first created by feng shui master Edward Li Kui-ming in 2019, opened on the sixth day of the Year of the Horse and sold out quickly as a holiday blockbuster. It brings on board comedy actress... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3344471/trump-abducted-aliens-and-has-chinese-twin-chaotic-cantonese-opera?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3344471/trump-abducted-aliens-and-has-chinese-twin-chaotic-cantonese-opera?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:15:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Beijing is encouraging equity investors to pursue representative action against unscrupulous listed or delisted firms in an apparent effort to bolster confidence in the country’s stock markets, as trading resumed on Tuesday following a 10-day break. The Supreme People’s Court, mainland China’s highest judicial organ, also announced at a press conference that it would issue more edicts on civil compensation for insider trading and market manipulation to better safeguard retail investors’... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344453/chinas-top-court-backs-legal-action-against-corrupt-firms-amid-equity-markets-rally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344453/chinas-top-court-backs-legal-action-against-corrupt-firms-amid-equity-markets-rally?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:20 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s Lunar New Year box office slid to its weakest level since 2020, weighed down by the absence of major breakout films, despite the country leading global single-market takings so far this year. Cinemas generated 5.75 billion yuan (US$831 million) over the nine-day holiday that ended on Monday, according to box-office tracker Dengta Data – a drop of nearly 40 per cent from last year’s record 9.51 billion yuan haul. The result marked the lowest Lunar New Year takings since 2020, when... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344458/chinas-lunar-new-year-box-office-hits-6-year-low-releases-fall-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344458/chinas-lunar-new-year-box-office-hits-6-year-low-releases-fall-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:30:50 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese tech giants claimed a victory after a promotional giveaway campaign for their artificial intelligence services during the Lunar New Year, touting surging user numbers and the adoption of AI as part of holiday consumption. During the period, Alibaba Group Holding’s AI app Qwen saw nearly 200 million orders placed, according to data released by the company on Monday. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Among the users were more than four million people aged 60 and above who... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344432/ai-apps-soar-china-lunar-new-year-giveaway-battle-boosts-user-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344432/ai-apps-soar-china-lunar-new-year-giveaway-battle-boosts-user-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese consumers boosted their spending by 8.6 per cent in the first four days of this year’s extended Lunar New Year break amid government stimulus measures. Traffic increased 4.5 per cent at 78 key shopping streets in the first three days of the Spring Festival compared with last year’s break, while revenue rose 4.8 per cent, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The nine-day holiday, which finished on Monday, also set records for domestic and overseas travel. The increase in holiday... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3344452/chinas-weak-consumption-gets-lunar-new-year-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3344452/chinas-weak-consumption-gets-lunar-new-year-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:05:59 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Thailand led the list of destinations for Chinese tourists travelling overseas during this year’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, as former favourite Japan saw arrivals plummet amid a political dispute with China over Taiwan. The Southeast Asian nation saw roughly 250,000 arrivals from China during the holiday, which ran from February 15 to 23, according to the travel marketing and technology firm China Trading Desk. This year’s Lunar New Year holiday was expected to be a key period for global... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344421/chinese-tourism-japan-plunges-50-over-lunar-new-year-thailand-cashes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344421/chinese-tourism-japan-plunges-50-over-lunar-new-year-thailand-cashes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:14 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee,Alice Li Yeon Woo Lee,Alice Li For his family’s first overseas trip together, Tang Junjie carefully planned a holiday to Japan during China’s longest Lunar New Year break on record. Flights were booked months in advance by the 22-year-old from Sichuan province, who had already made three solo visits to the neighbouring country that has long been a draw for Chinese tourists. But a sudden deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations changed everything. “The original plan was to transit through Seoul on our way to Japan,” Tang said.... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344356/seoul-gains-tokyos-pain-over-lunar-new-year-politics-reshapes-chinas-tourism-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344356/seoul-gains-tokyos-pain-over-lunar-new-year-politics-reshapes-chinas-tourism-map?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Malaysian tour guide Syazni Nabilah Che Kamarudin and her family have immersed themselves in this year’s Lunar New Year festivities, handing out red packets and dressing up in traditional Chinese attire. “This year is especially meaningful for me because it is my first time giving hongbao to my Chinese friends after getting married. I’m happy to follow this beautiful custom,” the Kuala Lumpur resident said of the long-standing Chinese tradition. “As Malay-Muslims, we enjoy the cultural... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344396/why-southeast-asias-non-chinese-embrace-lunar-new-year-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344396/why-southeast-asias-non-chinese-embrace-lunar-new-year-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:40:17 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Ant Group’s artificial intelligence health app AQ surpassed 100 million users during the Spring Festival holiday, the company said, underlining growing momentum in China’s AI-driven healthcare sector. The app topped China’s Apple App Store overall download rankings for several consecutive days over the holiday period, according to Ant Group. Ant Group attributed the surge in part to younger, tech-savvy consumers who, after returning home for Spring Festival gatherings, shared the app with their... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344359/ants-aq-health-app-breaks-through-100-million-users-amid-holiday-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344359/ants-aq-health-app-breaks-through-100-million-users-amid-holiday-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Consumer spending during China’s Lunar New Year rose modestly this year, according to early official data, as authorities extended the holiday and stepped up stimulus measures to support domestic demand. Average daily sales at major retail and catering firms rose 8.6 per cent year on year over the first four days of the break, Ministry of Commerce data showed. Across 78 pedestrian shopping streets and commercial districts monitored by the ministry, foot traffic and sales revenue grew 4.5 per... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344352/chinas-lunar-new-year-sees-modest-rise-consumer-spending-early-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344352/chinas-lunar-new-year-sees-modest-rise-consumer-spending-early-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:51 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Resorts are near capacity in Pattaya, Bangkok restaurants are doing a roaring trade and the strict time slots to visit the Louis Vuitton pop-up “hotel” in the Thai capital are fully booked. As this year’s Lunar New Year holiday draws to a close, Thailand’s tourist businesses are totting up the receipts from what many hope will be an enduring rebound in Chinese visitors. More than 30,000 Chinese visitors have arrived each day since the start of January. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344241/thailand-sees-lunar-new-year-travel-boom-chinese-tourists-back-droves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344241/thailand-sees-lunar-new-year-travel-boom-chinese-tourists-back-droves?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Gerui Wang Gerui Wang The 2026 Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television events, featured a dazzling array of humanoid robots. They performed martial arts, executed intricate sword dances and even took part in a comedy skit alongside human celebrities. While parts of the world still view humanoid robots with a mixture of fear and suspicion, as potential job-stealers or sci-fi villains, China is increasingly embracing them as partners in work, entertainment and daily life. Amid the escalating... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344083/humans-vs-robots-china-begs-disagree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344083/humans-vs-robots-china-begs-disagree?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Campers and hikers have urged Hong Kong authorities to step up public education, law enforcement and impose foot traffic limits at campsites after some areas were flooded with visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday. A visit by the South China Morning Post on Saturday to Ham Tin Wan, a beach in Sai Kung, found about 50 visitors and 30 tents. Empty plastic bottles, used tissue paper and chocolate wrappers were seen lying on the sand and in bushes and shrubs. Officers from the Agricultural,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344225/calls-better-supervision-hong-kongs-campsites-after-areas-inundated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344225/calls-better-supervision-hong-kongs-campsites-after-areas-inundated?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:03:04 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jacky Leung Nok-hang said he held no grudge against previous Hong Kong bosses, but acknowledged his tally of 14 international caps was “one of the biggest disappointments of my career”. The defender, who recently left Zhejiang FC for Shenzhen Juniors to be closer to his ill father, last appeared for Hong Kong in November 2023. Leung was unable to answer a late call for former head coach Ashley Westwood’s first match in Liechtenstein in October 2024, because he was in Hong Kong visiting family... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3344154/hong-kong-defender-leung-reveals-biggest-disappointment-shares-lunar-new-year-cup-joy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3344154/hong-kong-defender-leung-reveals-biggest-disappointment-shares-lunar-new-year-cup-joy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344115/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-enjoy-good-luck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344115/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-enjoy-good-luck?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial If cautious optimism is the prevailing sentiment in a troubled world, the city could not have wished for a more auspicious launch to the Year of the Horse than the race meeting at Sha Tin on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Amid a crowd of 92,612, the biggest since the Covid-19 pandemic, it was Hong Kong in exuberant and resilient form. Punters pressed against the rails in balmy weather and an estimated 20,395 mainland visitors helped pack the stands. Thoroughbreds charging down the straight... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344128/record-post-covid-horse-race-attendance-kicks-auspicious-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344128/record-post-covid-horse-race-attendance-kicks-auspicious-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Wynna Wong,Lo Hoi-ying Wynna Wong,Lo Hoi-ying Hongkongers made more than 1.4 million outbound trips over the Lunar New Year holiday, up by about 20 per cent from 2019, while the number of arrivals over the same period remained below pre-pandemic levels. Immigration Department data released on Friday showed that from Lunar New Year’s Eve to the third day of the holiday, residents made 1.44 million trips out of the city – 20.4 per cent more than the 1.2 million recorded in the same period in 2019. By contrast, mainland Chinese visitors made... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344114/hongkongers-make-14-million-outbound-trips-over-lunar-new-year-break-20-2019?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344114/hongkongers-make-14-million-outbound-trips-over-lunar-new-year-break-20-2019?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:18:19 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s financial markets on Friday greeted the Year of the Horse with a mixed response, with stocks and gold moving in different directions on the first trading day of the year. Markets reopened on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, with the Hang Seng Index closing 1.1 per cent lower at 26,413.25, and gold advancing 0.6 per cent to end the day at HK$46,685 (US$5,985) a tael (37.9 grams). Hong Kong Gold Exchange (HKGX) chairman Haywood Cheung Tak-hay said the exchange would team up with... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3344067/hong-kong-stocks-and-gold-start-year-horse-mixed-note?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3344067/hong-kong-stocks-and-gold-start-year-horse-mixed-note?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:40:58 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Thousands of Hong Kong bank employees will receive a return-to-work lai see on Friday, with some banks handing out extra benefits and gifts to their staff amid improving economic and market sentiment. While it is a Chinese tradition for companies to give their staff lai see on the first working day of the Lunar New Year as a token of appreciation for their hard work, many banks nowadays give their staff lai see and other goodies before the holiday. Bank of China (Hong Kong) is giving each of its... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343890/hong-kong-banks-reward-staff-gifts-extra-holiday-and-lai-see-they-return-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343890/hong-kong-banks-reward-staff-gifts-extra-holiday-and-lai-see-they-return-work?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Lunar New Year wasn’t always on LuLu Grant’s radar. Adopted at two from Fuzhou, China and raised in the US state of Washington, Grant decided to cut her birth country out of her life at a young age. Decades later, she would celebrate Spring Festival alongside her birth family with a complex array of feelings about her two worlds. “People think that finding your birth family is so joyous, and part of it is, but it’s also very sad and very difficult,” she said, adding that “it’s not how I wish it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344038/born-china-raised-us-adoptees-explore-meaning-identity-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344038/born-china-raised-us-adoptees-explore-meaning-identity-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:03:35 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow China’s “big tech” giants – including Alibaba Group Holding, ByteDance and Tencent Holdings – released preliminary figures showing impressive gains for their new flagship artificial intelligence offerings during this year’s Spring Festival Gala marketing blitz. While red packet giveaways and extensive advertising campaigns have been a fixture of past Lunar New Year holidays, this year’s multi-billion-yuan competition surrounding a crop of new artificial intelligence products was so intense that... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344017/chinas-tech-giants-report-huge-gains-spring-festival-marketing-blitz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344017/chinas-tech-giants-report-huge-gains-spring-festival-marketing-blitz?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A green group has called for long-term measures to tackle overtourism in Hong Kong’s scenic Sai Kung district after the number of tents at a campsite reached more than nine times its capacity on the second day of Lunar New Year, although authorities described the situation as “under control”. Greenpeace said on Thursday that it had counted 585 tents at the Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites the previous day, far exceeding the designated capacity of 50 at each location. Ham Tin Wan had 450 tents... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344030/green-group-calls-action-after-hong-kong-campsites-packed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344030/green-group-calls-action-after-hong-kong-campsites-packed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:25:52 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s hotels and tourist-area restaurants have reported robust business during the Lunar New Year holiday, even as an increase in outbound travel by residents underscored the city’s increasingly visitor-driven festival economy. An industry leader said the city had also seen more mainland Chinese tourists this year partly because of worsening ties between China and Japan. Figures from the Immigration Department released on Thursday showed locals left the city in droves from February 13 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344021/hong-kong-hotels-tourist-area-eateries-report-brisk-trade-over-lunar-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344021/hong-kong-hotels-tourist-area-eateries-report-brisk-trade-over-lunar-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:07:19 +0000 The Star The Star More people in China are choosing to stay away from their villages and families during Lunar New Year, according to Chinese national and businessman Xue Gang, 44. “Our parents do not mind, and even my parents are currently travelling around China. “Maybe next year I will bring them to Penang to witness the celebrations here,” he said. Xue, who was in Malaysia’s Penang state with his wife, daughter and friends, said festive performances were no longer common to enjoy back home. “If we want to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343996/chinese-tourists-escaping-cold-flock-malaysia-lunar-new-year-festivities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343996/chinese-tourists-escaping-cold-flock-malaysia-lunar-new-year-festivities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:03 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma Locals and visitors flocked to popular destinations across Hong Kong on the third day of Lunar New Year on Thursday, despite official data showing a nearly 16 per cent increase in net outflow during the holiday period. Crowds began building up at about 10am on The Peak and at Sha Tin’s Che Kung Temple, with authorities later reporting that footfall at the High Island Reservoir’s East Dam, a popular tourist spot, in Sai Kung ranged between 500 and 999 visitors from around noon to 4pm. According... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343993/crowds-continue-flood-hong-kong-attractions-despite-outbound-travel-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343993/crowds-continue-flood-hong-kong-attractions-despite-outbound-travel-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:23:32 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises strength, freedom and vitality. Yet as the Year of the Horse is celebrated with images of grace and power, real horses continue to suffer in industries that treat them as expendable. Near Egypt’s Great Pyramids, Peta investigators... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343894/we-celebrate-lunar-new-year-lets-ensure-we-do-better-horses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343894/we-celebrate-lunar-new-year-lets-ensure-we-do-better-horses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:30:11 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Eleocharis dulcis, or water chestnut, is widely known as ma tai – “horse’s hoof” – in Cantonese and ma ti in Mandarin. The moniker may derive from its dark, glossy exterior that resembles the rough contours of an equine hoof, but thankfully, there is nothing gamy about this ingredient. Its corm – or bulb – is edible and can be consumed raw, as long as you peel away its thick and woody exterior, much like you would a real chestnut. Its flavour is sweet and mild, while its true draw is its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:15:07 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang I remember when I was four or five years old, my great-grandmother would get busy days ahead of Lunar New Year. She would clean the house, pickle vegetables in an enormous jar and start pre-cooking dishes for the New Year’s Eve family meal. One star of the night, called “lion’s head”, is steamed minced pork meat balls that take days to make. My great-grandmother would go to the market ahead of time and pick out pork belly that was the right balance of lean and fat meat, carefully chopping the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343871/why-lunar-new-year-celebrations-are-about-people-not-process?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343871/why-lunar-new-year-celebrations-are-about-people-not-process?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The world’s largest human migration, China’s Spring Festival travel rush, could date back more than 2,000 years and reflects the history and development of China’s transport networks. This year’s Spring Festival rush, or chunyun, takes place from February 2 to March 13, and is expected to produce a total of 9.5 billion passenger trips. The chunyun is believed to first appear along with the invention of the term guo nian, or spending the New Year, in the Zhou dynasty (1046–256). The New Year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343175/spring-festival-travel-rush-dates-back-ancient-china-only-rich-and-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343175/spring-festival-travel-rush-dates-back-ancient-china-only-rich-and-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok It is a strange, reflective time to be a Chinese millennial woman. This week, as we celebrated the Lunar New Year, the holiday coincided with the release of the Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. Watching it felt like a collision of two very different, yet equally judgmental worlds. The documentary is a brutal postmortem of a popular reality competition created by former supermodel Tyra Banks in 2003. For 24 seasons, supermodel hopefuls were pitted against one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343876/too-fat-how-americas-next-top-model-and-our-chinese-aunties-gave-us-body-image-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343876/too-fat-how-americas-next-top-model-and-our-chinese-aunties-gave-us-body-image-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A neutral prophecy for Hong Kong as it faces the Year of the Horse urges the city to foster its own good fortune amid global tensions. That is the message to be taken from the “neutral” No 22 fortune stick drawn on the city’s behalf on the second day of the Lunar New Year by Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung. It seems apt as the city consolidates economic recovery from the pandemic. The stick, one of 96 drawn from a bamboo cylinder at Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, read: “Do not get close... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343919/hong-kong-should-temper-optimism-caution-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343919/hong-kong-should-temper-optimism-caution-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343717/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-dragons-luck-wealth-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343717/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-dragons-luck-wealth-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is gearing up to harness the extended Lunar New Year holiday to attract more spending by international tourists, as the country looks to shake off a recent economic slowdown and pivot towards consumption-driven growth. In a rare joint initiative by nine central government departments, Beijing announced plans earlier this month to turn the holiday – which this year began on Sunday and runs through February 23 – into a “consumption feast that links regions and engages everyone”. The move... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343743/china-targets-foreign-tourists-lunar-new-year-consumption-feast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343743/china-targets-foreign-tourists-lunar-new-year-consumption-feast?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Twelve people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks shop in Hubei in central China on Wednesday, just days after eight people died in a similar incident in a nearby province. The accident happened just before 2.30pm on the second day of Lunar New Year in Zhengji township in the city of Xiangyang, state news agency Xinhua reported. The report added that the subsequent fire spread across the premises and was put out within an hour. An investigation into the cause is under way. The explosion... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343931/12-killed-chinas-second-deadly-lunar-new-year-firework-explosion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3343931/12-killed-chinas-second-deadly-lunar-new-year-firework-explosion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:15:02 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Harvey Kong Connor Mycroft,Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s visitor numbers on the first two days of Lunar New Year are at least 8 per cent higher than in 2025, with Wednesday’s fireworks display boosting momentum further as tens of thousands of spectators lined both sides of Victoria Harbour for the show. The huge crowd gasped in awe as the 23-minute spectacle to celebrate the Year of the Horse lit up the night skies above Victoria Harbour with 31,888 shells, including pyrotechnics forming the shapes of gold ingots and horseshoes. Chief... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343928/tens-thousands-eagerly-waiting-hong-kong-lunar-new-year-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343928/tens-thousands-eagerly-waiting-hong-kong-lunar-new-year-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:39:56 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Consumer interest in robots has surged in China since several leading models appeared on stage at Monday’s Spring Festival Gala, with delivery dates pushed as far back as late April. This development follows the featuring of robots from four domestic firms – Unitree Robotics, Magiclab, Galbot and Noetix – at the event after they signed partnerships reportedly worth around 100 million yuan (US$14 million). One of the biggest beneficiaries was Hangzhou-based Unitree, whose G1 humanoid robots... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3343908/robotics-firms-see-backlog-orders-after-humanoids-steal-show-spring-festival-gala?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3343908/robotics-firms-see-backlog-orders-after-humanoids-steal-show-spring-festival-gala?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:00:12 +0000