https://www.scmp.com/rss/318202/feed The latest society, public affairs and community news from China. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alice Yan Alice Yan A Chinese woman who has planted trees in the deserts of Inner Mongolia for decades has contacted an American man who donated US$5,000 to her and invited him to visit a forest that came into being because of his funding. Yin Yuzhen, 60, was awarded as a National Model Worker by China’s State Council in 2000 for her long-term anti-desertification efforts. Hailing from a poor family in northwestern Shaanxi province, Yin married a man who lives in Maowusu Desert in Inner Mongolia in the 1980s. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3354182/american-donated-us5000-china-farmer-tree-planting-decades-ago-invited-view-forest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3354182/american-donated-us5000-china-farmer-tree-planting-decades-ago-invited-view-forest?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang China’s “most devoted fraudster” has returned to public attention after mainland media revisited his case of forging hospital payment slips to keep his wife alive. Liao Dan, a former factory worker in Beijing with only a secondary school education, had been living on the margins of the city with his wife, Du Jinling, and their son after their workplaces shut down. Their hardship worsened in 2007, when Du was diagnosed with severe uraemia and told she needed dialysis three times a week to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354243/china-most-devoted-fraudster-fakes-records-give-wife-free-dialysis-reignites-medical-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354243/china-most-devoted-fraudster-fakes-records-give-wife-free-dialysis-reignites-medical-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 06:00:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Substance for Putin, ‘face’ for Trump as China, Russia deepen strategic alliance Days after US President Donald Trump’s visit framed around managing risks, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3354444/leaders-xi-putin-meet-over-tea-rare-earth-find-northeast-china-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3354444/leaders-xi-putin-meet-over-tea-rare-earth-find-northeast-china-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 04:34:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese influencer has turned the flying sword in Chinese xianxia fantasy novels into reality by creating a specially-shaped aerial vehicle. Fan Shisan, from southwestern China’s Sichuan province, recently posted a video of himself riding a sword-shaped aerial vehicle, amassing 3.3 million views and 284,000 likes. Dressed in black and striking a cool pose, Fan looks like a knight in China’s xianxia dramas. Xianxia is a popular genre of Chinese fantasy developed from the wuxia, or martial... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354207/china-inventor-creates-sword-shaped-aerial-vehicle-bringing-flying-sword-fantasy-novels-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354207/china-inventor-creates-sword-shaped-aerial-vehicle-bringing-flying-sword-fantasy-novels-life?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A top influencer in China has announced a halt to updates of his social media account for the sake of his health, arousing significant nationwide attention. The announcement comes after the sudden deaths of a slew of online celebrities at a young age due to work pressure, the Liaoshen Evening News reported. Wang Bowen, who uses the handle @dalianlaoshiwangbowen on social media and has amassed more than 20 million followers, said in mid-May that he would stop releasing videos for an “indefinite... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354101/china-blogger-20-million-followers-takes-break-after-13-years-intense-content-creation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354101/china-blogger-20-million-followers-takes-break-after-13-years-intense-content-creation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese woman developed an eight centimetre throat ulcer after eating hotpot too quickly, prompting her doctor to warn about the risks of such behaviour. The 42-year-old, surnamed Wang, from Changsha in central China’s Hunan province, was diagnosed with an oesophageal ulcer after gulping down the food. She said she was too “hungry and carried away” while chatting with friends over hotpot on a cool day in March. She did not wait for the food to cool down after taking it from the pot, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354116/china-woman-develops-8cm-throat-ulcer-after-quickly-eating-hotpot-rupturing-digestive-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354116/china-woman-develops-8cm-throat-ulcer-after-quickly-eating-hotpot-rupturing-digestive-system?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A former top beauty make-up influencer who has made a whirlwind return to social media after disappearing from view has called on her fans to place their trust in her. The influencer, who previously used the handle @chengshian and had a combined 30 million followers on several leading platforms in China, stopped releasing videos in May 2023, news website Sina reported. She returned to the spotlight on May 13 by opening a new account @Jiang Chenglan, which is her real name. She then amassed 10... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354062/china-beauty-influencer-returns-after-3-year-hiatus-gaining-10-million-followers-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354062/china-beauty-influencer-returns-after-3-year-hiatus-gaining-10-million-followers-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A noodle shop in downtown Beijing went viral on social media after billionaire Jensen Huang paid it a visit, prompting the outlet to launch a “God of War in leather jacket” set menu the next day. On May 15, the Nvidia CEO was spotted holding a large bowl of noodles and using chopsticks to wolf down food outside Fangzhuanchang No 69 Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles shop in the Nanluogu commercial area in central Beijing. Huang was in China as part of US President Donald Trump’s delegation which met... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354196/jensen-huangs-visit-china-spicy-noodle-shop-prompts-launch-leather-jacket-set-meal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354196/jensen-huangs-visit-china-spicy-noodle-shop-prompts-launch-leather-jacket-set-meal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese student’s complaint about the lack of benches in a university smoking area has been strongly rejected by a teacher, reigniting discussions on smoking publicly in China. The student at the Xian International Studies University, in northwestern Shaanxi province, made the complaint in the school’s internal feedback channel. The complainant said the lack of benches made smoking too “exhausting” and asked the school to provide more. A university teacher responded with a lengthy letter... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354070/china-teacher-slams-students-complaint-about-lack-benches-smoking-area-reignites-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354070/china-teacher-slams-students-complaint-about-lack-benches-smoking-area-reignites-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A man in China with only one arm and one leg who took part in a bodybuilding competition, attracting thunderous applause at site and massive admiration on social media. The muscular Liu Xinju, 32, joined The 20th Bodybuilding Competition in Jinan, the capital city of eastern Shandong province, which was held on May 10. Videos of his performance on stage went viral on mainland social media. Many people were moved and inspired by Liu, who consequently earned the nickname Encouraging Brother, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354053/chinese-man-who-lost-leg-and-arm-inspires-many-competing-bodybuilding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3354053/chinese-man-who-lost-leg-and-arm-inspires-many-competing-bodybuilding?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Prestigious universities in China carry a rich tradition of showcasing their names on entrance gates, inscribed in calligraphy by renowned political leaders, reflecting both political history and academic prestige. Calligraphy, the art of writing, is a revered traditional Chinese art form that was historically valued above all others. In ancient China, calligraphy was an elite art, its aesthetics meticulously regulated by imperial authority. For instance, during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354085/legacy-ink-how-calligraphy-links-chinas-political-heritage-academic-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3354085/legacy-ink-how-calligraphy-links-chinas-political-heritage-academic-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang In ancient China, summer heat could be deadly long before the advent of air conditioning. To survive it, people resorted to remedies ranging from imperial ice sculptures and water-powered fans to the more carefree practice of dressing minimally. One of the most devastating examples occurred during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), when an extreme heatwave swept across northern China. Lacking modern weather stations, officials documented the disaster through... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3354064/ancient-china-elites-used-water-fans-ice-cool-down-summer-folks-had-bamboo-pillows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3354064/ancient-china-elites-used-water-fans-ice-cool-down-summer-folks-had-bamboo-pillows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 06:10:56 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Ancient China’s legal system was never only about crime and punishment. It was also a mechanism of imperial control, used to protect the throne, discipline officials and regulate social order. Across millennia, it gave rise to sophisticated codes such as the Tang Code, as well as rules that now appear bizarre or even absurd. Rules for public roads began to take shape more than 2,000 years ago. The Han Feizi records that people who threw ash onto the road could have both hands cut off. In later... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353560/ancient-china-laws-punished-men-crying-people-messy-handwriting-forced-drink-ink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353560/ancient-china-laws-punished-men-crying-people-messy-handwriting-forced-drink-ink?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A flat-owning Shanghai grandpa who lives in a supermarket to avoid loneliness gave his home to a nanny he met at the shop in the face of his son’s disapproval. Qiangming, 78, has been living in the staff entrance of the supermarket in Shanghai for nearly a decade. He sleeps on a mat, rests in the supermarket’s dining area during the day and carries 50,000 yuan (US$7,400) cash in his pocket, plus a DV recorder. He describes himself as a drifter, not a beggar. The 20sqm flat he owns nearby is... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353522/chinese-man-78-lives-supermarket-despite-owning-flat-offers-property-new-friend-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353522/chinese-man-78-lives-supermarket-despite-owning-flat-offers-property-new-friend-care?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Shanghai doctor has gone viral because he weighs 150kg, with some internet users jokingly asking whether they should follow such a plump person’s prescriptions. Chest surgeon Xiang Ruilong, who was born in the 1980s, works at Shanghai Yueyang Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine Hospital. Standing at 1.84m tall, he weighs in at 150kg, the Xinmin Evening News reported. Xiang said he was about 110kg when he started working as a resident doctor over 10 years ago. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353520/occupational-bug-china-surgeon-goes-viral-weighing-150kg-due-work-stress-bad-diet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353520/occupational-bug-china-surgeon-goes-viral-weighing-150kg-due-work-stress-bad-diet?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A man in southern China suspected of poisoning an online celebrity dog which is famous for collecting plastic bottles in the street has been caught after its owner called the police. The French bulldog nicknamed Xiaobai won the hearts of millions last year for diligently collecting plastic bottles for its owner. It has earned over 100,000 yuan (US$14,600) over the past five years as its owner, surnamed Zhang, sold the waste bottles. The social media account @gouxiaobai boasts half a million... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353569/french-bulldog-china-known-collecting-plastic-bottles-faces-threats-animal-abusers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353569/french-bulldog-china-known-collecting-plastic-bottles-faces-threats-animal-abusers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Visitors to the Forbidden City in China’s capital city might find it hard to ignore its magnificent red door, but there is more to the entrance than its beauty. The golden door nails not only neatly line up, they were exclusive to the royal family and cannot be seen everywhere in China. In the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, door nails were a symbol of hierarchy, and are bound by strict rules. Firstly, the number of door nails must be odd because in traditional Chinese culture,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353579/china-forbidden-citys-red-gates-golden-door-nails-subject-rules-regarding-number-colour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353579/china-forbidden-citys-red-gates-golden-door-nails-subject-rules-regarding-number-colour?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 76-year-old woman once dubbed China’s oldest mother of twins has returned to the spotlight after a photographic series chronicling her life recently won an international award. Sheng Hailin, from Anhui province in central China, has also become a social media influencer with nearly one million followers, offering solace and inspiration to bereaved parents rebuilding their lives after loss. Her only daughter, Tingting, and her newlywed husband died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2009,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353532/woman-76-became-chinas-oldest-mum-giving-birth-twins-60-after-enduring-family-tragedies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353532/woman-76-became-chinas-oldest-mum-giving-birth-twins-60-after-enduring-family-tragedies?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A primary school in China sparked controversy for letting its pupils fill in a detailed questionnaire about their parents’ work. The survey, titled Observation List of Parents’ Occupation, was distributed to pupils at the beginning of May at Huatai Primary School in Tianmen, central Hubei province, Zonglan News reported. The questions regarding their parents’ work coincided with the May Day holiday which is celebrated in mainland China as Workers’ Day. The school said that it aimed to boost... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353412/china-school-slammed-invading-privacy-pupil-survey-asking-if-parents-work-smelly-or-noisy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353412/china-school-slammed-invading-privacy-pupil-survey-asking-if-parents-work-smelly-or-noisy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A couple in southwestern China turned their wedding into a professional wrestling showdown, with the loser agreeing to do the housework for life. Unlike conventional competitive sports, professional wrestling is a choreographed combat performance. The groom, He Yinsheng, a professional wrestler from Zunyi in Guizhou province, staged the unusual celebration with his wife at a local hotel in early May. In place of a traditional wedding stage, the couple installed a wrestling ring, with a giant... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353418/china-couple-make-wedding-memorable-hosting-wrestling-match-loser-facing-housework?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353418/china-couple-make-wedding-memorable-hosting-wrestling-match-loser-facing-housework?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Cyril Ip Cyril Ip What comes to mind when you think of China, Japan and South Korea? This was a question posed in a second-year sociology seminar during my time at Bristol, and it has stayed with me ever since. We were split into three groups and given 10 minutes to create posters capturing our immediate associations. Japan came first. Sketches of anime, sushi platters and temples appeared. My classmates spoke with enthusiasm, drawing on travel memories or aspirations to visit. A country that, less than a century... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353463/how-deal-very-chinese-time-western-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353463/how-deal-very-chinese-time-western-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A young Chinese couple who were both diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder a year after getting married have lost their newborn baby. The couple in northern China’s Tianjin municipality were diagnosed with Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis last year. The husband, surnamed Li, said only four couples in the world had been diagnosed with the disorder at the same time, and they were the first case in China. Li, 32, had a fever last March, a year after he married his wife. He also felt... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353421/china-couple-diagnosed-rare-autoimmune-disorder-together-have-lost-newborn-baby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353421/china-couple-diagnosed-rare-autoimmune-disorder-together-have-lost-newborn-baby?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Chinese blogger drove 1,300km to take a fellow university student to her hometown to see her dead mother for the last time before her funeral. Both students are in grade four at North Minzu University in Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous in northern China. On the evening of May 7, the female student was told that her mother had died suddenly. The reason for the mother’s death was not released, Dahe News reported. Since the female student’s home is located in a mountainous region, she had... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353373/china-blogger-drives-1300km-overnight-help-schoolmate-see-recently-deceased-mother?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353373/china-blogger-drives-1300km-overnight-help-schoolmate-see-recently-deceased-mother?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A young Chinese man has gone viral for making and selling fried rice wearing a suit at a night market, making 50,000 yuan (US$7,400) a month. The man, surnamed Lu, began running the stall in Yantai in eastern China’s Shandong province when he was 17 and has now become the “backbone” of his family. To look more “decent”, on a whim, he decided to don a suit one day while cooking the fried rice. Lu, now 19, often strikes stylish poses while cooking, such as slicking back his hair, winking at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353392/chinese-man-earns-us7400-monthly-selling-fried-rice-night-market-while-dressed-suit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353392/chinese-man-earns-us7400-monthly-selling-fried-rice-night-market-while-dressed-suit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Getting a proper sleep has been a problem for people throughout history and the ancient Chinese set up some rules and methods that are still believed to be effective today. In Chinese culture, sleep time is believed to be an important period for the body to absorb and restore energy. Ancient people were meticulous about the number of hours’ sleep they got and in what position they did so. For example, it is deemed important to get sufficient sleep during the Zi hour, 11pm to 1pm, and the Wu... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353385/china-practices-sleep-protection-and-better-quality-rest-include-use-scissors-walnuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353385/china-practices-sleep-protection-and-better-quality-rest-include-use-scissors-walnuts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang China’s first internationally certified female professional tree climber has turned a fear of heights into a career spent high in the canopy, pruning urban trees. Yu Yanling, a former track athlete from Xiamen in southeastern China’s Fujian province, was once afraid of heights. Now in her 30s, she has climbed trees as tall as 60 metres. She discovered the sport by chance at university, after seeing students suspended from branches by ropes and witnessing the joy it brought them, according to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3353297/china-first-female-expert-tree-climber-once-afraid-heights-turns-fear-thriving-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3353297/china-first-female-expert-tree-climber-once-afraid-heights-turns-fear-thriving-career?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 12-year-old boy in China who was taken to work by one of his parents literally played with fire and left an office completely destroyed. The parent, whose gender is unknown, took the boy to an office in Ningbo in the eastern province of Zhejiang on April 30 in an effort to enhance their emotional bond, the Red Star News reported. It is not clear what kind of company this parent works for. While busy with work, the parent left the boy alone in the office. The youngster became bored and came up... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353277/china-parent-brings-son-12-work-where-he-plays-fire-destroying-entire-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353277/china-parent-brings-son-12-work-where-he-plays-fire-destroying-entire-office?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang For most people, drinking water is an unremarkable daily habit. In ancient China, however, it carried far greater meaning. Water was bound up with social rank, health beliefs, ritual practice and etiquette. As early as the pre-Qin period (Paleolithic Period – 221 BC), Chinese thinkers were already classifying natural water. The ancient encyclopedic text Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals claimed that “heavy water”, rich in minerals, could cause swelling in the legs and feet, while “light... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353265/china-emperors-drank-mountain-springs-melted-snow-commoners-used-murky-well-water?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353265/china-emperors-drank-mountain-springs-melted-snow-commoners-used-murky-well-water?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Two small counties in China have put in place reciprocal arrangements for their residents to visit tourist spots following a moving story involving people in one place buying the apples of a sick farmer from the other. The story began on May 2 when Ji Yaozhong, a farmer from Yangxian county of northwestern Shaanxi province, drove a truck carrying 4,000kg of apples to sell in Xianfeng county in Hubei province, central China, the Hubei Daily reported. He suffered a sudden stroke which left him... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353231/china-farmer-suffers-stroke-while-selling-4000kg-apples-hospital-staff-clear-stock-19-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353231/china-farmer-suffers-stroke-while-selling-4000kg-apples-hospital-staff-clear-stock-19-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang An actor in China nicknamed the “ageless man” because of a childhood condition which halted his growth has silenced detractors with his nuanced performances. According to Beiqing.com, Hou Xiang, 40, from Beijing, was born prematurely after his mother suffered from malnutrition during pregnancy. His growth and voice development stopped around the age of nine, leaving him less than 1.6 metres tall. Even in adulthood, strangers often mistake Hou for a boy, asking his age or where he studies. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3353256/china-actor-who-has-stopped-growing-9-known-playing-child-roles-build-acting-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3353256/china-actor-who-has-stopped-growing-9-known-playing-child-roles-build-acting-career?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A 15-year-old Chinese girl who has been suffering from a severe blood disorder most of her life is slowly recovering after receiving a transplant from her newborn brother. Xiaoyan from southern China’s Guangdong province is now only 140cm tall, and weighs just 25kg. She was diagnosed with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, at three months old. Her father, a construction worker, and her jobless mother did not arrange standard treatment for her except for regular blood transfusions. It was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353246/china-parents-conceive-baby-collect-umbilical-cord-blood-save-daughter-severe-disorder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353246/china-parents-conceive-baby-collect-umbilical-cord-blood-save-daughter-severe-disorder?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A special education institute in eastern China that targets “problematic” teenagers has sparked controversy for allowing its students to carry toy dolls throughout the school day as part of gratitude lessons. Yuanzhong Special Education School, located in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, accepts adolescent students who exhibit rebellious behaviour, lack motivation for studying, are addicted to online games, or display a fiery temper and early dating tendencies. Recently, videos of students carrying toy... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353206/china-special-school-has-rebellious-students-carry-baby-dolls-teach-empathy-sparks-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353206/china-special-school-has-rebellious-students-carry-baby-dolls-teach-empathy-sparks-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan K-pop superstar G-Dragon’s decision to gift his long-serving staff members flats worth a combined total of hundreds of millions of won (around several hundred thousand USD) has sparked a frenzy among netizens, with some asking, “Are you still hiring?” Dubbed the “King of K-pop,” the 38-year-old singer Kwon Ji-yong, better known as G-Dragon in the entertainment industry, is one of the most popular stars in South Korea and across Asia. He is the leader of BigBang, one of the world’s bestselling... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353205/are-you-still-hiring-k-pop-king-g-dragon-gifts-flats-long-serving-staff-causes-online-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3353205/are-you-still-hiring-k-pop-king-g-dragon-gifts-flats-long-serving-staff-causes-online-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese youth are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for fortune-telling, discovering that AI models are cheaper, faster, and equally effective compared to traditional human soothsayers. On a popular Chinese social media platform, the hashtag #deepseeksuanming, or DeepSeek fortune-telling, has amassed over 55 million views. DeepSeek is a family of Chinese AI models launched in 2023. Many users report that AI fortune-telling has seamlessly integrated into their daily routines.... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353152/why-chinese-youth-embrace-ai-fortune-telling-despite-critics-labelling-it-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3353152/why-chinese-youth-embrace-ai-fortune-telling-despite-critics-labelling-it-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese barbecue stall owner paused his business to donate stem cells to a three-year-old toddler and was rewarded by long queues of customers. Shao Sanhu, 33, from central China’s Anhui province, put his barbecue stall on hold for 13 days to carry out the Good Samaritan deed. He put a notice on the tarpaulin that covered his stall on April 18, saying that the business was on hold for a week because of a “family matter”. He also posted on his social media account, indicating that he was going... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352734/china-eatery-owner-closes-shop-briefly-donate-stem-cells-toddler-customers-show-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352734/china-eatery-owner-closes-shop-briefly-donate-stem-cells-toddler-customers-show-support?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A woman in eastern China has been fined for applying make-up and dancing behind the wheel, then claiming her car’s driver-assistance system drove better than she could. According to CCTV News, the driver, surnamed Lin, is from Wenzhou in Zhejiang province and had repeatedly posted videos online flaunting her vehicle’s assisted driving. In the widely shared clips, Lin is seen travelling through a tunnel with the system activated, both hands off the steering wheel, while applying foundation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352733/china-woman-fined-applying-make-dancing-while-driving-claims-assisted-driving-more-reliable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352733/china-woman-fined-applying-make-dancing-while-driving-claims-assisted-driving-more-reliable?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu In ancient China, ordinary people were not allowed to wear yellow as it symbolised the imperial power, apart from one exception: the emperor’s yellow jacket. Magua is a style of jacket worn by Manchu males during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). It was worn over the long robe as protection while riding horses. Huang magua, or the imperial yellow jacket, has a special meaning due to its colour. In Qing dynasty, only the emperors, empresses and empress dowagers could wear yellow. Ordinary people... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352773/what-was-qing-dynastys-imperial-yellow-jacket-what-it-symbolised-why-it-mattered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352773/what-was-qing-dynastys-imperial-yellow-jacket-what-it-symbolised-why-it-mattered?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A casual peace sign in a selfie has become China’s latest online privacy concern after experts warned that the popular pose could expose users’ fingerprints. In a mainland workplace reality show aired in April, financial expert Li Chang used a celebrity selfie to show how clearly visible fingers in a photograph could put personal biometric data at risk. Li said fingerprints could potentially be extracted from selfies taken within 1.5 metres if the fingers faced the camera directly. Even at a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352777/china-tv-variety-show-exposes-scam-linking-peace-sign-selfies-privacy-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352777/china-tv-variety-show-exposes-scam-linking-peace-sign-selfies-privacy-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese woman who accused a famous chain of milk tea shops of planting mercury in her drink was later found to be the target of poisoning by her boyfriend. The woman, surnamed Zhang, from central China’s Anhui province, initially complained online that a Chagee shop laced her drink with mercury granules. Zhang said her boyfriend bought the drink for her on April 27. The first few sips were fine, but later she felt little granules in her sips that “did not taste like tapioca bubbles”. She... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352575/chinese-woman-accuses-tea-shop-adding-mercury-drink-discovers-boyfriend-culprit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352575/chinese-woman-accuses-tea-shop-adding-mercury-drink-discovers-boyfriend-culprit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A four-year-old boy miraculously survived after falling from the window of his 11th-floor home. After the boy gained consciousness, he said in tears to his mother that he had climbed onto the window because he was missing her so much that he wanted to see if she was coming home. The boy’s experience went viral online after his experience was reported by the Haibao News in early May. The incident unfolded on April 11 when the boy, nicknamed Xiaoming, was left alone in his home in Dalian, Liaoning... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352579/china-boy-4-survives-11-floor-fall-after-climbing-window-see-if-parents-were-coming-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352579/china-boy-4-survives-11-floor-fall-after-climbing-window-see-if-parents-were-coming-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Three years after some Chinese youngsters chose to become “full-time children”, some said it was not a cure-all for their plight in China’s tense job market. The title “full-time children” went viral in 2023 in China, when some young people became a “full-time employee” of their parents. They received monthly salaries from their parents, ranging from 1,000 yuan (US$150) to over 5,000 yuan, depending on their parents’ pensions. In exchange, they kept their parents’ company and helped them manage... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352635/china-full-time-children-re-enter-job-market-believe-experience-will-ease-future-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352635/china-full-time-children-re-enter-job-market-believe-experience-will-ease-future-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A performer at a scenic spot in central China went viral for offering visitors “lollipop kisses”, raising controversy about the boundaries of interactive tourism. Ge’s Fairy Village, a resort in Jiangxi province, combines Taoist culture with forested landscapes and features martial arts-themed hotels. Adult tickets usually cost 130 yuan (US$20). One of its most popular entertainers, known online as “Little Yellow Fish”, has drawn nearly 400,000 followers on mainland social media. Dressed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352581/china-scenic-spot-entertainer-sparks-debate-giving-lollipop-kiss-female-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352581/china-scenic-spot-entertainer-sparks-debate-giving-lollipop-kiss-female-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A young woman tourist in China died after falling from a “cliff swing” ride after her warning that the safety rope was not tied tightly enough was ignored. The heart-wrenching accident went viral on mainland social media and was viewed more than 200 million times. It sparked public rage and calls for safety supervision for adventure activities to be strengthened. On May 5, the municipal government of Huaying in southwestern China’s Sichuan province issued a statement that the tourist, surnamed... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352722/china-tourist-dies-after-cliff-swing-fall-safety-rope-was-loose-despite-her-warnings-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352722/china-tourist-dies-after-cliff-swing-fall-safety-rope-was-loose-despite-her-warnings-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Shanghai company has been ordered to pay a woman employee 690,000 yuan (US$101,000) for illegally firing her because her husband works for a rival firm. Xuhui District People’s Court made the ruling in Shanghai in late April, the Yangtze Evening News reported. The woman, surnamed Liu, started working at the company in 2006. The firm’s name was not disclosed in the report, only that it operates in the property management industry. At the end of 2023, Liu received a notice from her employer... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352622/china-woman-fired-due-husbands-rival-firm-job-receives-us101000-unjust-dismissal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352622/china-woman-fired-due-husbands-rival-firm-job-receives-us101000-unjust-dismissal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A top online influencer in China who was fined 18.91 million yuan (US$2.6 million) for evading nine million yuan in taxes has attracted significant attention on social media. The case of Bai Bing, a food influencer with more than 40 million followers, was revealed by China’s State Tax Administration (STA) in late April, according to the media outlet CCTV. The authorities said that between 2021 and 2024, Bai underpaid a total of 9.11 million yuan (US$1.3 million) of personal income tax,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3351980/ex-china-waiter-turned-influencer-40-million-fans-fined-us26-million-tax-evasion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3351980/ex-china-waiter-turned-influencer-40-million-fans-fined-us26-million-tax-evasion?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The revival of Chinese hanfu, or traditional dress of the Han people, in recent years has drawn attention to the complicated etiquette surrounding buttons. As the Xinzhongshi, or neo-Chinese style clothing, took over the market in recent years, some people complained online that they had bought clothes that would bring bad luck. The telltale sign was the number of buttons on a garment. In some Chinese regions, a folk belief existed which held that if the number of buttons is four or six, this... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352024/china-number-clothing-buttons-holds-meaning-specific-counts-assigned-dead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352024/china-number-clothing-buttons-holds-meaning-specific-counts-assigned-dead?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Battered school indoor shoes, reportedly worn by graduating schoolgirls, have appeared in online shops in Japan, sparking fierce criticism over the fetishisation of young women. Removing outdoor shoes before entering homes, schools, companies and other public buildings is a deeply rooted custom in the country, tied to cleanliness and respect for shared spaces. Known as uwabaki, Japan’s traditional indoor shoes are typically white and shaped like ballet flats. At schools, from kindergarten... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3352640/japan-online-shops-probed-after-listing-schoolgirls-old-indoor-shoes-sale-us320?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3352640/japan-online-shops-probed-after-listing-schoolgirls-old-indoor-shoes-sale-us320?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 11:07:04 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China’s Chaka Salt Lake, a heaven-like tourist attraction hailed as a “mirror of the sky”, has hit the headlines over an “ugly” installation. The lake in northwestern China’s Qinghai province is famous for its mirror-like surface, formed as a result of the water’s high salt content. It was selected by an authoritative Chinese geography magazine as being among the top must-visit sites in China and received around 40,000 visitors daily last year. However, some people have complained that an... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3351975/sculpture-middle-mirror-sky-china-lake-criticised-disrupting-serene-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3351975/sculpture-middle-mirror-sky-china-lake-criticised-disrupting-serene-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A woman in eastern China shed 21.5kg in just four months because her best friend told her she would look like the famous actress Yang Mi if she became thinner. The woman, who uses the alias taozichibubao, shared her slimming experience on social media, winning massive admiration from internet users, the Ningbo Evening News reported. Living in Zhejiang province, the woman previously weighed 64kg. Having lost 21.5kg last year, she remained at 42.5kg for several months. She is 156cm tall, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352040/china-woman-loses-21kg-after-friends-idea-being-thinner-makes-her-resemble-famous-actress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3352040/china-woman-loses-21kg-after-friends-idea-being-thinner-makes-her-resemble-famous-actress?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 06:00:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An eight-year-old Iranian boy who left his primary school in China for his mother country in January and later lost contact with his teachers for 42 days has returned to the campus, thrilling his classmates. On April 27, when the boy named Radin, dressed in the school’s uniform, appeared in a classroom at Shaoxing Boya International School, his excited classmates all came to hug him closely, the Yueniu News reported. “I asked my teacher not to tell them the news so this could be a surprise,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3351804/joyous-reunion-iranian-boy-china-classmates-after-family-visit-iran-moves-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3351804/joyous-reunion-iranian-boy-china-classmates-after-family-visit-iran-moves-many?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000