https://www.scmp.com/rss/302930/feed Thomas Yau joined the Post in 2011 as a junior photographer, and is now the Post's Shanghai video correspondent. He holds a MSJ degree in documentary journalism from Northwestern University in Illinois, and a bachelor's degree in international journalism from Hong Kong Baptist University. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Thomas Yau Thomas Yau Japan’s Sushiro, the world’s largest conveyor-belt sushi chain, debuted in Shanghai in early December 2025, to much fanfare. People have been queuing hours for a table, with some resorting to buying tickets from scalpers. The popularity of the Osaka-based restaurant chain appears to have not been affected by the recent diplomatic row between China and Japan. The latest spat has led to mass cancellations of tour groups to Japan and Japanese performances in China. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337146/despite-political-tensions-japanese-sushi-chain-sushiro-debuts-huge-crowds-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337146/despite-political-tensions-japanese-sushi-chain-sushiro-debuts-huge-crowds-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 01:15:07 +0000 Thomas Yau Thomas Yau In China’s tech hub Hangzhou, visitors to a country park can rent an exoskeleton to aid their climb for as little as 1 yuan (14 US cents). The exoskeleton is said to make the hiking process almost “effortless”, according to Chinese social media users. https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/article/3334222/hiking-uphill-too-hard-china-you-can-rent-exoskeleton-make-it-easier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/article/3334222/hiking-uphill-too-hard-china-you-can-rent-exoskeleton-make-it-easier?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:08:24 +0000 Thomas Yau Thomas Yau China is seeing a gold-buying rush as the precious metal has outperformed other assets, such as local real estate and stocks. The People’s Bank of China is also among central banks buying gold and paring US dollar holdings amid concerns about the outlook for the US economy and inflation. SCMP Plus subscribers enjoy early access to selected SCMP videos. https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324333/chinas-gold-rush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324333/chinas-gold-rush?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 06:40:19 +0000 Thomas Yau,Daniel Ren Thomas Yau,Daniel Ren Chinese carmakers are surging ahead in the race for autonomous driving, with over 60 per cent of new vehicles in China boasting some self-driving capabilities, compared to less than 40 per cent in the US. Post staff conducted road tests during the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show to pit the Chinese-made Xpeng P7+ against Tesla’s Model 3. While impressive, the systems for handling actions such as merging, parking and obstacles still require driver attention. So, what does this mean for the future of... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3316320/how-does-chinese-driverless-system-compare-teslas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3316320/how-does-chinese-driverless-system-compare-teslas?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 03:46:54 +0000 Thomas Yau Thomas Yau Prices for US goods have risen in China following tit-for-tat tariffs between the two countries. This video explores how the trade war is hitting Chinese shoppers. SCMP Plus subscribers enjoy early access to selected SCMP videos. https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3311502/cost-trade-war-ordinary-chinese-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3311502/cost-trade-war-ordinary-chinese-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 06:14:50 +0000 Chinese gig worker Xu Bochun says he was lured to Myanmar in 2023 by a job offer that turned out to be fake. He ended up being sold to a scam centre in Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone bordering China. In a wide-ranging interview with the Post, Xu gives a detailed account of his experience as a victim of human trafficking. He details how he was forced to work for three months in an online scam centre before he escaped. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3300624/people-are-sold-every-day-first-hand-account-life-inside-myanmar-scam-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3300624/people-are-sold-every-day-first-hand-account-life-inside-myanmar-scam-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:00:20 +0000 China’s government has announced it is lifting the retirement age for workers. The changes set to go into effect from January 1, 2025, are seen as an attempt to mitigate the effects of a rapidly ageing society and slow down the draining of pension funds. About half of all provincial administrative regions across the nation recorded pension fund surpluses that could be turned over to the central government in 2023. Of these, only four – Guangdong, Beijing, Jiangsu and Anhui – were each able to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3280251/we-saw-coming-citizens-react-china-increasing-its-retirement-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3280251/we-saw-coming-citizens-react-china-increasing-its-retirement-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Sep 2024 03:00:19 +0000 In the bustling city of Shanghai, office worker Ivan Li has found an unconventional alternative to stressful commuting: kayaking. By paddling through the city’s waterways, Li sidesteps the congestion and chaos of driving or taking public transport. His approach not only saves time but also provides a refreshing experience amid the challenges of urban life. Li has been trying to expand his “kayaking to work” community by offering free rides to strangers. His efforts have encouraged others to also... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3275613/commuting-shanghai-kayak-brings-breath-fresh-air-office-worker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3275613/commuting-shanghai-kayak-brings-breath-fresh-air-office-worker?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Aug 2024 03:15:19 +0000 Chinese tech companies, such as Baidu’s Apollo Go, have rolled out driverless robotaxis in major mainland cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and Shenzhen. The South China Morning Post’s Thomas Yau tried one out in Shanghai to see if the days of human drivers are truly numbered. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3272238/what-it-ride-chinas-ai-driven-robotaxi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3272238/what-it-ride-chinas-ai-driven-robotaxi?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 02:20:14 +0000 The Chinese professional football scene – and the men’s national team in particular – has been mired in scandal and stories of poor performance. The most recent example emerged as hundreds of Chinese athletes prepared to compete for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the national football team was eliminated in the qualifying rounds. So, what has gone wrong with professional football in China and why has the nation struggled to make its mark on the beautiful game? https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3271332/whats-wrong-professional-football-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3271332/whats-wrong-professional-football-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2024 03:15:27 +0000 With slower growth in China’s economy, young professionals and middle-class people around the country are tightening their belts and cutting down on spending. The shift has prompted many foreign governments to raise concerns about China forming excess production capacity, and the impact that could have on the nation’s domestic economy, international relations and even life decisions made by Chinese citizens. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3267692/how-chinas-belt-tightening-affects-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3267692/how-chinas-belt-tightening-affects-world?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jun 2024 03:24:38 +0000 The gaokao is widely considered the most important exam Chinese students will face in their lifetimes. The test can make or break a young person’s future, since their scores largely determine if and where they can attend university and what areas of study they can pursue. While many critics of the gaokao say preparing for it is too gruelling, others still consider the exam a relatively fair system of meritocracy – especially for students from less-privileged socio-economic backgrounds. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3265992/what-gaokao-look-chinas-daunting-university-entrance-exams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3265992/what-gaokao-look-chinas-daunting-university-entrance-exams?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2024 02:25:38 +0000 China is now the world’s largest automotive and electric vehicle (EV) market. Sales of electric cars made in the country also account for about 60 per cent of the global total. Behind the industry boom is the Chinese government’s long-term commitment to industrial self-reliance and sustainability. But with policies favouring EV carmakers about to expire, fierce competition has put pressure on their profitability. Chinese carmakers seeking overseas opportunities face rapidly changing markets,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3254708/how-chinas-electric-vehicle-industry-charged-ahead-dominate-global-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3254708/how-chinas-electric-vehicle-industry-charged-ahead-dominate-global-market?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Mar 2024 13:00:19 +0000 Han Shimei is a 52-year-old woman living in a rural community in China’s central province of Henan. Trapped in an unhappy arranged marriage for 30 years, Han found comfort by writing short poems about her life and her longing for a genuine romantic relationship. Her work, which started as a hobby, soon became an online sensation after she posted her poems on the Chinese short-video-sharing app Kuaishou. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3251336/chinese-woman-unhappy-over-30-year-arranged-marriage-writes-viral-poems-love-and-resignation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3251336/chinese-woman-unhappy-over-30-year-arranged-marriage-writes-viral-poems-love-and-resignation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Feb 2024 03:00:21 +0000 On March 28, China’s financial hub Shanghai began a two-phase lockdown plan to contain the spread of the coronavirus within the city. While the initial plan was for restrictions to be lifted on April 5, they have been repeatedly extended in some areas with no end in sight. Like other residents, the Post’s journalists in Shanghai have struggled with food shortages, loneliness and fears for their families – all while working hard to bring news of the situation in the city to the world from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/social-welfare/article/3174213/voices-ground-shanghais-lockdown-through-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/social-welfare/article/3174213/voices-ground-shanghais-lockdown-through-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Apr 2022 06:04:25 +0000 There are signs of progress on development of a Covid-19 vaccine being tested by Chinese company Fosun Pharma in collaboration with German’s BioNTech, according to Guo Guangchang, chairman of Fosun International. Guo said the vaccine being developed is an mRNA jab, which is faster and cheaper to produce than traditional vaccines. https://www.scmp.com/china/chinese-covid-19-vaccine-developer-fosun-pharma-optimistic-about-progress-mrna-jab/article/3109024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/chinese-covid-19-vaccine-developer-fosun-pharma-optimistic-about-progress-mrna-jab/article/3109024?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:22:19 +0000 In 1937, during the closing phase of the Battle of Shanghai, Chinese troops made a last stand against invading Japanese forces at Sihang Warehouse. Decades later, the site is flooded with tourists each year who place Chinese flags, wine, and even cigarettes in honor of the fallen soldiers. https://www.scmp.com/china/wartime-shanghai-battleground-becomes-symbol-chinese-nationalism/article/3105756?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/wartime-shanghai-battleground-becomes-symbol-chinese-nationalism/article/3105756?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2020 10:37:51 +0000 China has long been a testing ground for the world’s architects to try out new ideas. From the “bottle opener” in Shanghai to the “big trousers” in Beijing, the country is no stranger to unorthodox building design. The latest structures to draw attention are two new buildings in the country’s Yangtze River Delta. https://www.scmp.com/china/chinas-terraced-buildings-maintain-reputation-unorthodox-architecture/article/3096445?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/chinas-terraced-buildings-maintain-reputation-unorthodox-architecture/article/3096445?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:41:05 +0000 Shanghai Disneyland has reopened to visitors last week after a four-month shutdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but things haven’t fully returned to normal just yet. https://www.scmp.com/china/coronavirus-shanghai-disneyland-reopens/article/3084821?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/coronavirus-shanghai-disneyland-reopens/article/3084821?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2020 11:29:39 +0000 China’s central province of Hubei, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has implemented tough travel restrictions. The new rules imposed on February 16, 2020, apply to the province’s entire population of 58 million and restricts all people from leaving their residential communities or villages. Hubei has seen the majority of the over 1,800 deaths worldwide from Covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. https://www.scmp.com/china/chinas-hubei-province-full-lockdown-combat-coronavirus-outbreak/article/3051104?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/chinas-hubei-province-full-lockdown-combat-coronavirus-outbreak/article/3051104?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2020 12:03:12 +0000 Since 2015, China has been engaged in a “toilet revolution” to clean up much-lamented public loos around the nation. Now the battle for better bathrooms is entering a new phase in places like Hangzhou. The capital of the eastern province of Zhejiang recently introduced a “smart” toilet, that turns answering nature’s call into a unique, relaxing and even pleasant experience. https://www.scmp.com/health/coffee-machines-facial-recognition-are-features-chinas-smart-public-toilet-revolution/article/3044036?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/health/coffee-machines-facial-recognition-are-features-chinas-smart-public-toilet-revolution/article/3044036?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2019 09:50:32 +0000 Downtown Hong Kong descended into chaos on Sunday as anti-government demonstrations entered their 17th straight week. Violent clashes took place two days before the People’s Republic of China marks 70 years since its founding. More protests are expected before and during the anniversary. https://www.scmp.com/china/tear-gas-petrol-bombs-and-mass-arrests-17th-straight-sunday-anti-government-protests-hong-kong/article/3030910?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/tear-gas-petrol-bombs-and-mass-arrests-17th-straight-sunday-anti-government-protests-hong-kong/article/3030910?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 11:00:29 +0000 For the first time in 12 weekends of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, a police officer fired a warning shot during clashes with demonstrators on Sunday. Earlier in the day, police also deployed water cannons for the first time, threatening to use them in order to disperse hundreds of protesters who had occupied a road following a march. https://www.scmp.com/politics/shot-fired-and-water-cannon-deployed-police-and-protesters-clash-hong-kongs-western-new-territories/article/3024329?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/shot-fired-and-water-cannon-deployed-police-and-protesters-clash-hong-kongs-western-new-territories/article/3024329?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Aug 2019 08:02:36 +0000 Hacking at each other armed with swords and shields in full medieval armor may seem like a job for stunt actors. But in China, dozens of enthusiasts are suiting up for exhausting bouts in the hope of finding international success in medieval combat. Watch the video above. https://www.scmp.com/sports/medieval-knights-china-are-going-war/article/3009477?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sports/medieval-knights-china-are-going-war/article/3009477?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 May 2019 10:44:13 +0000 Cherry trees are blossoming around Shanghai, charming park visitors as the eastern Chinese metropolis welcomes the arrival of spring. Check out our video, above, for more. https://www.scmp.com/china/cherry-blossom-season-arrives-shanghais-gucun-park/article/3005108?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/cherry-blossom-season-arrives-shanghais-gucun-park/article/3005108?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:53:17 +0000 China is developing a controversial social credit system of rewards and punishments meant to encourage people and businesses to abide by rules and to promote integrity and trustworthiness in society at large. The government aims to have it in place by 2020, and so far its most visible applications include a ban on people from booking express trains or flights if they appear on various “blacklists”. While there are still many questions about how the system will be implemented, at least one... https://www.scmp.com/china/how-one-chinese-company-plans-make-money-chinas-social-credit-system/article/3003295?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/how-one-chinese-company-plans-make-money-chinas-social-credit-system/article/3003295?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:00:20 +0000 Behind the towering modern skyscrapers of Shanghai, some older corners of the city still remain. The Laoximen neighborhood is one of the city’s oldest. Once the location of the west gate of the former walled city, the area’s history dates back 500 years. It’s home to some of the final remaining examples of colonial buildings built when Shanghai was one of the only places in China where foreigners were permitted to trade. But urban redevelopment has steadily chipped away at Laoximen, with the... https://www.scmp.com/society/shanghais-laoximen-neighborhood-poised-be-demolished/article/3001066?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/shanghais-laoximen-neighborhood-poised-be-demolished/article/3001066?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Mar 2019 09:30:53 +0000 Chinese state news agency Xinhua has published an English-language propaganda rap video all about the “two sessions” – the country’s annual parliamentary meetings. Performed by rapper Su Han, who rose to fame in popular reality show Sing! China, the video celebrates China’s recent developments, including its landing on the far side of the moon, its battles against pollution and poverty, and its greening campaign. While hip hop culture and propaganda don’t seem like natural bedfellows, in recent... https://www.scmp.com/politics/chinese-state-media-releases-two-sessions-propaganda-rap/article/3001045?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/chinese-state-media-releases-two-sessions-propaganda-rap/article/3001045?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Mar 2019 09:55:13 +0000 In a Shanghai stadium on Saturday, thousands of screaming fans gathered with their arms outstretched, reaching towards their idol. But there was no megastar to touch. They were there to see Luo Tianyi, China’s most famous virtual singer. Virtual stars were first created in the 1990s in Japan. Luo Tianyi was created in 2012, the first of her kind in China. Now she thrives thanks to concerts, lucrative advertising contracts… and fans who create her songs for her. The country’s virtual idol... https://www.scmp.com/business/virtual-idol-luo-tianyi-chinas-most-famous-digital-singer/article/3001037?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/virtual-idol-luo-tianyi-chinas-most-famous-digital-singer/article/3001037?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Mar 2019 09:54:38 +0000 China’s film market is massive: film-goers spent $88.7 billion at Chinese cinemas in 2018. And its own massive version of Hollywood, called Hengdian World Studios in eastern China, is responsible for producing films for China’s millions of cinephiles.  The 2,500-acre film studios are so large that they’re home to a full-sized replica of Beijing’s famous Forbidden City. The set is in hot demand to film Chinese period dramas, like last year’s hit series Story of Yanxi Palace.  But China's film... https://www.scmp.com/arts/chinas-film-industry-feels-squeeze-hengdian-world-studios/article/2181363?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/arts/chinas-film-industry-feels-squeeze-hengdian-world-studios/article/2181363?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jan 2019 09:45:45 +0000 Online shopping has grown so big in China that everything is just a click away. Electronics, home goods and even live animals can all be bought just with a few taps on a smartphone. Thomas Yau, a South China Morning Post reporter who has just moved to Shanghai, wants to do just that. Together with his colleague Rachel Cheung, he sets out to transform his spartan apartment into a luxe pad – using only his smartphone. Check out the video, above, to see how he did. https://www.scmp.com/tech/how-e-commerce-changing-everything-china-including-homes/article/2176509?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/how-e-commerce-changing-everything-china-including-homes/article/2176509?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Dec 2018 10:31:15 +0000 The new InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel has opened in China’s largest city. But this five-star hotel isn’t a skyscraping marvel: in fact, descends some 289 feet below ground, on the site of an abandoned quarry. Check out our video for more. https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-abandoned-shanghai-quarry-now-5-star-underground-hotel/article/2173893?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-abandoned-shanghai-quarry-now-5-star-underground-hotel/article/2173893?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Nov 2018 09:37:13 +0000 The world’s largest shopping day smashed records again this year. Singles’ Day on November 11 netted $30.8 billion in 24 hours, setting a new record for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. (Alibaba also owns Inkstone.) Alibaba had turned the day from celebration of singledom into a major shopping festival in 2009. Now it’s bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday, combined. https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-chinas-singles-day-sales-reach-308-billion/article/2172968?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-chinas-singles-day-sales-reach-308-billion/article/2172968?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Nov 2018 10:15:45 +0000 Hairy crab, or Chinese mitten crab, is an autumn delicacy in China. It is named after its furry claws, which resemble mittens, and is native to rivers and other coastal habitats of eastern China. Hairy crab is prized for the female crab roe, which ripens in the ninth lunar month (it began on October 9 this year). The males mature later, in the tenth lunar month. In traditional Chinese medicine, crab meat is believed to have a “cooling” effect on human body. Watch the video above to see what... https://www.scmp.com/food/how-pick-and-eat-chinese-hairy-crabs/article/2169654?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/food/how-pick-and-eat-chinese-hairy-crabs/article/2169654?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:15:00 +0000 China has major ambitions. The emerging potential superpower is throwing its considerable resources – and population – into high-tech sectors. One sector in particular stands out: artificial intelligence. China has made significant developments in AI, and some of its practical applications – especially in facial recognition tech – already appear to have outstripped the rest of the world. But there’s still work to be done if China is to meet its goal of being a world leader in the field by... https://www.scmp.com/tech/how-china-wants-dominate-artificial-intelligence-tech-2030/article/2167121?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/how-china-wants-dominate-artificial-intelligence-tech-2030/article/2167121?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Oct 2018 09:30:00 +0000 A barber in Shanghai is where NBA stars go when they’re in China and need to look good. Allen Wu, 22, has become popular with NBA superstars including James Harden, Derrick Rose and Tracy McGrady – and Chinese celebrities as well. But his dream almost didn’t happen: his parents didn’t support his decision to cut hair. But after his brother gave up a month’s salary to support Allen’s training, the fledgling barber’s career took off. https://www.scmp.com/society/nba-stars-are-flocking-barber-shanghai/article/2166805?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/nba-stars-are-flocking-barber-shanghai/article/2166805?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Oct 2018 09:30:00 +0000 Shanghainese food is one of the world’s greatest cuisines, and there’s one dish in particular that stands above the rest: xiaolongbao soup dumplings. Biting into these pork-filled treats releases a rich, piping-hot broth that inevitably catches out unsuspecting diners. Shanghai’s Wanshouzai has been hand-making soup dumplings for at least six decades. Here’s how this humble dumpling joint has stood the test of time in modern Shanghai. https://www.scmp.com/china/how-xiaolongbao-soup-dumplings-are-made-shanghais-wanshouzai/article/2165534?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/how-xiaolongbao-soup-dumplings-are-made-shanghais-wanshouzai/article/2165534?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Sep 2018 10:30:45 +0000 Hong Kong’s live bands, dancers, performers and street masseuses are going to have to find another place to do their thing. Since 2000 Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok district, Hong Kong, has been a bustling pedestrian zone on weekends and public holidays, attracting bands, stallholders, street performers – and crowds. But it’s looking like the area’s residents have had enough. The authorities are looking at shutting down the night-time festivities in the face of more than a thousand noise... https://www.scmp.com/society/mong-kok-pedestrian-zone-about-be-closed/article/2147553?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/mong-kok-pedestrian-zone-about-be-closed/article/2147553?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 May 2018 08:15:30 +0000 Thousands gathered on Tuesday on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong to celebrate the annual Bun Festival. Legend has it that the festival started after the god Pak Tai was able to chase away a plague from the island. The big finale to the festival is the Bun Scramble – a competition to climb a 46-foot tower, bedecked with (plastic) buns. https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-cheung-chau-bun-festival/article/2147419?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-cheung-chau-bun-festival/article/2147419?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 May 2018 09:00:30 +0000 Beijing relies on 850,000 public security volunteers to keep order in a city of 21.5 million people. They keep an eye out for “troublemakers” and "suspicious people." During China’s two big political meetings, or "two sessions", petitioners flock to Beijing. Inkstone caught up with two such volunteers on the streets of the bustling capital. The two retirees, both over 70 years old, were kind of adorable. https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-meet-beijings-security-volunteers/article/2136812?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/last-wonton-meet-beijings-security-volunteers/article/2136812?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Mar 2018 07:30:00 +0000 Some people try aromatherapy or hit the pub for a pint to drown their anger, but in Hong Kong, residents can now vent their aggression in the city’s first rage room. At the Ikari Area in Kwun Tong, participants are invited to don orange jumpsuits and gas masks, arm themselves with metal pipes, and let out their rage on the nearest household appliance. For HK$300, they have 15 minutes to smash up bottles and old electronics in one of four rooms in a disused office, where black walls are splashed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2099695/anger-management-or-violent-fun-destruction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2099695/anger-management-or-violent-fun-destruction?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jun 2017 03:00:00 +0000 Police have refused to release any information about victims of the ferry collision off Lamma Island, said a relative of one of the deceased, as condolences poured in from US and British officials. Ryan Tsui, whose brother died in the boat accident that killed 38 people, said on Wednesday that without any information, his family was forced to rush around four hospitals. They were finally able to confirm the death of his brother. “I understand that the whole investigation process may take up at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1053237/victims-family-blasts-lack-info-condolences-pour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1053237/victims-family-blasts-lack-info-condolences-pour?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:01:04 +0000