https://www.scmp.com/rss/322660/feed Rachel Cheung was a culture reporter at the Post until 2019. She graduated from Chinese University of Hong Kong with a degree in journalism and communication, and joined the Post in 2016. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Spanning an area roughly the size of 70 soccer fields, Hengdian World Studios in China’s Zhejiang Province is among the largest outdoor film studios in the world. Home to replicas of the Forbidden City, imperial palaces, and old Hong Kong, this is where many Chinese period dramas are produced. The chart-topping Story of Yanxi Palace and Zhang Yimou’s Hero were all shot here. Aspiring actors from across the country come in hopes of making it big. An estimated 30,000 people live and work in... https://www.scmp.com/culture/life-inside-chinas-hengdian-worlds-largest-film-studio/article/3086646?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/life-inside-chinas-hengdian-worlds-largest-film-studio/article/3086646?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2020 07:05:29 +0000 Early arrival: I was born and raised in Hong Kong. The due date was in April 1978, but I was born prematurely on January 2, so I suffered some birth defects, which affected my sight. I lost vision in both eyes and cannot see any light. My mother worked as a cleaner and my father as a cleaner and construction labourer. I am the youngest of four. I have two brothers and one sister. I grew up at Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired, in Pok Fu Lam, where I was admitted when I was five.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3035679/hong-kongs-blind-protester-life-front-line-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3035679/hong-kongs-blind-protester-life-front-line-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Oct 2019 21:00:09 +0000 Shanghai is home to a growing number of Chinese vegetarian restaurants, which offer far more variety than salads and veggie burgers. And thanks to food review apps such as Dianpang and Meituan, finding them is becoming easier. When Lakeside Veggie opened last year, it took hours to get a table, but the hype has died down, so we were seated immediately even without a reservation. The original restaurant is by West Lake in the city of Hangzhou, from which it took its poetic name; the Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3033149/four-restaurants-leading-shanghais-vegetarian-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3033149/four-restaurants-leading-shanghais-vegetarian-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Oct 2019 08:30:07 +0000 Sellers of street wear in Hong Kong have pulled Vans products from their shelves amid a backlash against the American manufacturer. Anti-government protesters called for a boycott of the sneaker brand after it removed entries from its annual Custom Culture sneaker design contest that alluded to the unrest in the city sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill. . This drew the ire of many young protesters. DaHood, a local chain store, suspended sales at all three of its Vans franchise stores in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3031932/vans-sneakers-pulled-sale-hong-kong-after-protest-themed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3031932/vans-sneakers-pulled-sale-hong-kong-after-protest-themed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Oct 2019 02:29:57 +0000 There are nights when I cannot sleep; the slogan chanting and cries of panic keep ringing in my ears. There are mornings when I cannot wake up, fearing I’ll open my eyes to a world that has gone further down the slippery slope. Then there are days when I do nothing but cry. At least I am releasing these emotions, I tell myself. For others, who are so caught up in the news cycle, it is a luxury they may not have. The daily news is filled with stories of how Hong Kong residents, protesters and law... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/rachel-cheung-hong-kong-protests-pose-challenge-journalists-mental-health/article/3031068?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/rachel-cheung-hong-kong-protests-pose-challenge-journalists-mental-health/article/3031068?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:09:44 +0000 There is always a story behind the story. This column explores beyond the headlines to reveal the hidden tales affecting cultural and social issues throughout the region. There are nights when I cannot sleep; the slogan chanting and cries of panic keep ringing in my ears. There are mornings when I cannot wake up, fearing I’ll open my eyes to a world that has gone further down the slippery slope. Then there are days when I do nothing but cry. At least I am releasing these emotions, I tell myself.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3030888/hong-kong-protests-take-toll-mental-health-journalists-we-find-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3030888/hong-kong-protests-take-toll-mental-health-journalists-we-find-way?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 10:02:09 +0000 A chill runs down my spine as soon as we lift our blindfolds and find ourselves in a dark, narrow hallway. A light bulb flickers above our heads. In front of us is a noticeboard with faded photos stuck onto it. Maybe that is our first task, to work out what the images are and to search for more clues in the text on another board. But the sudden sound of a basketball bouncing down a neighbouring hallway is enough to elicit a shriek and send all five of us scuttering to a corner in panic. Welcome... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3030091/chinas-escape-rooms-are-taking-genre-next-level-immersive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3030091/chinas-escape-rooms-are-taking-genre-next-level-immersive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Sep 2019 07:30:12 +0000 Hong Kong protest anthem Glory To Hong Kong, a crowdsourced composition sung by anti-government protesters and their supporters in the streets and in shopping malls, continues to take on a life of its own. Composed by a Hong Kong musician known simply as “Thomas” and posted online to YouTube in August, since when the original video has been viewed 2.2 million times, the song has been translated into languages including Japanese, German, and Italian and the Taiwanese Hokkien Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3030264/hong-kong-protest-anthem-glory-hong-kong-takes-life-its-own?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3030264/hong-kong-protest-anthem-glory-hong-kong-takes-life-its-own?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Sep 2019 05:02:54 +0000 Sober Company in Shanghai has a wicked marketing strategy to get people drinking, and it works like a charm. It’s separated into Sober Cafe, Sober Kitchen and Sober Society – and as you consume alcohol in each space, you get a token. Collect all three and you have access to the restaurant’s best-kept secret: a hidden speakeasy. The mastermind behind the three-in-one concept is award-winning Japanese bartender Shingo Gokan, who also founded one of the city’s most famous bars, Speak Low. Our... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3030058/sober-company-shanghai-great-speakeasy-concept-award-winning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3030058/sober-company-shanghai-great-speakeasy-concept-award-winning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Sep 2019 04:30:06 +0000 Wong Kin-wah remembers clearly that terrible night five years ago. He and his children had made one of their regular video calls to his wife earlier in the evening, bidding her goodnight before she boarded her flight in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was July 17, 2014. Wong then tucked all three kids into bed, finished his work for the night and was about to go to sleep when his in-laws called to tell him: “The plane crashed.” Wong immediately went online to check his wife’s schedule. MH17 – the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3027388/family-mh17-crash-victim-reflect-coping-tragic-death-wife-and-mother-five?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3027388/family-mh17-crash-victim-reflect-coping-tragic-death-wife-and-mother-five?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Sep 2019 21:00:32 +0000 A leading American literary magazine has dropped the name of the late sci-fi writer John W. Campbell from a major award after a Hong Kong author slammed him as a “fascist” while receiving the honor. “John W. Campbell, for whom this award was named, was a f**king fascist,” Hong Kong-born writer Jeannette Ng said in her acceptance speech in Dublin last Sunday. Through his control of the influential sci-fi magazine Astounding Science Fiction as editor, Ng said, Campbell was “responsible for setting... https://www.scmp.com/arts/john-w-campbell-award-renamed-after-hong-kong-author-jeannette-ng-calls-out-fascist-writer/article/3024759?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/arts/john-w-campbell-award-renamed-after-hong-kong-author-jeannette-ng-calls-out-fascist-writer/article/3024759?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Aug 2019 11:48:56 +0000 For the past 2½ months, Y has slept no more than four hours a night. Weekends have been 48-hour marathons for the university student and his team of several hundred. Many of whom he has never met. Once all the hard-hatted, goggled, face-masked, black-clad Hongkongers go home at the end of a long day’s pro­testing, Y and his network of illustrators and designers take stock and get to work. “We knew we had an uphill battle against the govern­ment and police,” says Y. “They have a [PR] apparatus,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3024096/hong-kong-protest-art-meet-student-leading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3024096/hong-kong-protest-art-meet-student-leading?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2019 22:30:04 +0000 Hong Kong science fiction author Jeannette Ng became the city’s first to receive the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer last Sunday in Dublin, Ireland, but not without calling out the influential sci-fi writer whom the award is named after as a fascist. “John W. Campbell … was a fascist. Through his editorial control of [the magazine] Astounding Science Fiction, [Campbell] is responsible for setting a tone of science fiction that still haunts the genre to this day. Sterile. Male. White.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3024530/hong-kong-winner-john-w-campbell-sci-fi-award-stands-fascist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3024530/hong-kong-winner-john-w-campbell-sci-fi-award-stands-fascist?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:30:12 +0000 Many shops in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui closed early on Saturday, while residents were urged to stay indoors as protesters converged on their neighbourhood. Early in the afternoon, big malls in the area also began closing. Langham Place Shopping Mall was shuttered and further along Nathan Road – the main artery of Kowloon’s shopping district – Wing On Department Store in Yau Ma Tei was also closed. Sometime later, Lane Shoppers Boulevard in Tsim Sha Tsui followed suit. By late afternoon, more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3021324/shops-down-shutters-early-and-residents-stay-put-anti?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3021324/shops-down-shutters-early-and-residents-stay-put-anti?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Aug 2019 13:38:20 +0000 There is always a story behind the story. This column explores beyond the headlines to reveal the hidden tales affecting cultural and social issues throughout the region. In a recent crackdown, Chinese authorities recently demanded the removal of content deemed vulgar and inappropriate from online publishing platforms. The move sent the stocks of China Literature plunging – and a novel I have been following for the past two years, one new chapter a day like an addict living for her next fix,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3020911/my-guilty-pleasure-chinese-online-novels-and-why-theyre-so-alluring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3020911/my-guilty-pleasure-chinese-online-novels-and-why-theyre-so-alluring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2019 07:00:17 +0000 Six people were injured when fireworks were let off at a crowd gathered outside a Hong Kong police station on Wednesday morning, in an escalation of violence that has shocked the city. The drive-by attack from a private vehicle was launched as protesters besieged two police stations on Tuesday night over the ongoing extradition bill crisis in Hong Kong. At Kwai Chung Police Station, officers used pepper spray on protesters and a sergeant emerged with a Remington shotgun, thought to be loaded... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3020677/44-out-49-arrested-sundays-clashes-between-extradition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3020677/44-out-49-arrested-sundays-clashes-between-extradition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jul 2019 11:44:06 +0000 Once a driver, Mr Chan, 77, has been confined to a wheelchair since he lost his footing and injured his spinal cord. For the past 15 years, his wife, a retired garment worker also in her 70s, has been his only carer. Each day, besides handling household chores, she changes his diapers five times and bathes him at night, single-handedly lifting him in and out of the shower. The couple do not want to reveal their full names. “I don’t know where I have found the strength,” says Chan’s wife,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3019323/old-people-are-dying-waiting-lists-hong-kong-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3019323/old-people-are-dying-waiting-lists-hong-kong-care?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jul 2019 23:45:08 +0000 It’s Monday morning during low season in Taiwan, but throngs of tourists are at this small village in the center of the island, wielding selfie sticks and cameras. They move through the village, snapping away at the bright, colorful murals that adorn its houses and walkways. One couple has even come dressed in a wedding gown and tuxedo. Initially a local gem, the Rainbow Village, as it is known, shot to fame after being featured in popular guidebooks such as Lonely Planet’s Secret Marvels of... https://www.scmp.com/travel/taiwan-rainbow-village-huang-yung-fu/article/3017812?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/travel/taiwan-rainbow-village-huang-yung-fu/article/3017812?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2019 04:11:13 +0000 Over the past three weeks, Kwong has barely slept. “Whenever I close my eyes, I can hear only the sound of gunshots,” says the 30-year-old, recalling the scene on June 12 when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters demanding the withdrawal of a bill that would clear the way for ad hoc extradition arrangements from Hong Kong to other jurisdictions including mainland China. One image in particular haunts him: the bandaged face of a protester being carried onto an ambulance. Kwong... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3017505/mental-health-victim-all-sides-hong-kongs-extradition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3017505/mental-health-victim-all-sides-hong-kongs-extradition?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jul 2019 06:30:07 +0000 Wong Kim-fan, a part-time lecturer in the philosophy of travel at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), first learned about the Silk Road as a 14-year-old high-school pupil when a substitute teacher played a documentary exploring long-lost civilisations along the ancient trade route. Mesmerised, he immediately planned a trip to northern China. It was the first time Wong, who was raised in a working-class family, had ventured outside his hometown of Hong Kong. “Learning history is just not... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3016529/ethical-travel-group-teaching-tourists-respect-support-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3016529/ethical-travel-group-teaching-tourists-respect-support-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2019 00:45:14 +0000 Hong Kong’s security chief has urged protesters not to vent their anger on the police, after the force’s headquarters was besieged by demonstrators for the second time in a week. Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu also decried what he said were acts of vandalism and harassment at recent protests against the administration’s now-suspended extradition bill. Lee made the remarks as he met the press alongside Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung at the headquarters in Wan Chai. It was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3016336/dont-vent-extradition-bill-fury-hong-kong-police-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3016336/dont-vent-extradition-bill-fury-hong-kong-police-security?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jun 2019 08:28:34 +0000 Hundreds of protesters were out on Wednesday to draw international attention to their campaign against Hong Kong’s now-suspended extradition bill, petitioning one foreign consulate after another in a marathon march ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka this weekend. Organisers said about 1,500 people turned out, from different age groups and mostly dressed in black. They gathered at Chater Garden in Central before 9am, following an action plan that had been floated online for three days. About HK$6.7... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3016103/extradition-bill-protesters-carry-out-marathon-petition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3016103/extradition-bill-protesters-carry-out-marathon-petition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2019 04:10:52 +0000 When Polly Lui On-yee’s shift at the Queen Mary Hospital ended one afternoon in 2014, the police were firing tear gas – for the first time in nearly a decade – to disperse thousands of protesters outside the government headquarters complex in Admiralty. She immediately hopped on a taxi to rush to the scene. Wary of the clashes, the cab driver would only go as near as Sai Ying Pun, so Lui, then 45, ran more than 2km to reach the area. Petite and soft-spoken, she is neither a natural leader nor a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3015622/hong-kongs-christians-attend-extradition-bill-protests-good?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3015622/hong-kongs-christians-attend-extradition-bill-protests-good?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2019 06:45:05 +0000 Top religious leaders have joined the growing demands for the city’s leader to scrap – rather than suspend – the polarising extradition bill and to investigate allegations of violence against protesters. In a joint statement on Wednesday, Cardinal John Tong Hon, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, and Rev Dr Eric So Shing-yit, chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Council, called on the government to appease the public by withdrawing the bill and setting up an inquiry into police... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3015250/top-hong-kong-religious-leaders-criticise-chief-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3015250/top-hong-kong-religious-leaders-criticise-chief-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Jun 2019 12:30:33 +0000 The C in Tatcha’s Violet-C Brightening Serum (HK$720/30ml) stands for vitamin C, a potent antioxidant and anti-ageing superstar. Other ingredients include alpha hydroxy acids from fruits, which remove dead skin cells, and Japanese angelica root extract, which diffuses excess melanin. A holy grail for sensitive skin, Saturday Skin’s Bright Potion Probiotic Power Serum (HK$335/30ml) has a gentle formula that protects and hydrates the skin. Probiotics are strains of friendly bacteria that fight... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3015019/four-serums-help-your-skin-survive-hong-kong-summer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3015019/four-serums-help-your-skin-survive-hong-kong-summer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Jun 2019 03:45:07 +0000 Roads in and out of Hong Kong’s political nerve centre reopened on Tuesday morning after six days of intermittent closure by mass rallies, improvised sit-ins and violent clashes sparked by the city’s extradition bill. The government’s Admiralty headquarters were open for the first time since June 12, but the city leader’s de facto cabinet was not expected to have its weekly meeting. At about 7.30am, only a few protesters were resting outside the administration’s offices, in addition to a dozen... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3014947/hong-kongs-political-heart-semblance-normality-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3014947/hong-kongs-political-heart-semblance-normality-after?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2019 01:19:27 +0000 Hong Kong’s pro-democracy bloc and devoted but leaderless protesters on Monday struggled with ways to follow Sunday’s record-breaking march. The Civil Human Rights Front, which organised the march against a contentious extradition bill, estimated almost two million people took to the streets. Thousands remained to occupy sections of roads in Admiralty, in the evening and a small fraction – hundreds of them – stayed overnight. They retreated to a protest zone at the Legislative Council to allow... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3014908/how-do-you-follow-record-breaking-march-estimated-2-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3014908/how-do-you-follow-record-breaking-march-estimated-2-million?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jun 2019 13:11:12 +0000 Fenty Beauty by Rihanna’s Poutsicle Juicy Satin Lipstick (HK$170) comes in seven dare-to-wear-me shades, with cheeky names such as Alpha Doll (tropical orchid), Motorboat (electric sky blue) and Go Deep (teal blue). After a hiatus, Gucci has relaunched its beauty line with a lipstick collection that is available in three finishes – Rouge à Lèvres Satin, Rouge à Lèvres Voile and Baume à Lèvres (HK$305 each). Also notable is its campaign, which embraces imperfections by eschewing glamorous,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3013057/four-best-lip-products-perfect-summer-pout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3013057/four-best-lip-products-perfect-summer-pout?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2019 01:45:11 +0000 For acclaimed playwright Candace Chong Mui-ngam, the June 4, 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square is a subject an artist must tackle “at least once in their lifetime”. She may have been only 12 years old when People’s Liberation Army soldiers opened fire on the student protesters, but the incident left a strong imprint on her mind. Throughout her career, the subject would pop into her head every now and then., A breakthrough came when she had her first child,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3012976/june-4-tiananmen-crackdown-revisited-candace-chongs-play-may?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3012976/june-4-tiananmen-crackdown-revisited-candace-chongs-play-may?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jun 2019 07:00:14 +0000 It is a Monday morning during low season, but flocks of tourists wielding selfie sticks and cameras have arrived at Rainbow Village in Taichung, Taiwan. They move through the village snapping away, drawn to the bright, colourful murals that adorn its houses and walkways. One couple has even come dressed in a wedding gown and tuxedo. Initially a local gem, Rainbow Village shot to fame after being featured in popular guidebooks such as Lonely Planet’s Secret Marvels of the World, and lists of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3011612/taiwan-instagram-hot-spot-rainbow-village-and-how-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3011612/taiwan-instagram-hot-spot-rainbow-village-and-how-its?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 May 2019 05:30:04 +0000 Squeezing a zit is so satisfying that online videos of the act form a genre in their own right, and have propelled their creators to fame. Before Dr. Pimple Popper became a household name, however, there was Elsa Jen. Once afflicted with severe acne, the Taiwanese skincare guru has published several books on how to clear up breakouts and developed her own line for troubled skin, Elsa Gusa. Ching Sze-man, a skincare consultant at Elsa Gusa, gives advice on skincare routines. 1. Popping your... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3010136/dont-pop-pimple-skincare-expert-shares-tips-healthy-acne?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3010136/dont-pop-pimple-skincare-expert-shares-tips-healthy-acne?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 May 2019 12:15:09 +0000 As promised, Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD Concealer (HK$260) can hide all manner of redness, blemishes and acne. Extra brownie points for its silicone coating, which means the product is self-setting and does not require extra powder. Fenty Beauty, Rihanna’s cosmetics line, is known for inclusive make-up and its Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer (HK$210) does not disappoint. It boasts a 50-shade range and Sephora’s online tool allows you to compare colours with other make-up products to help... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3010143/four-best-concealers-flawless-radiant-complexion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3010143/four-best-concealers-flawless-radiant-complexion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 May 2019 01:15:04 +0000 Thanks to the Asian diaspora, bubble tea, or boba, has become a global phenomenon. The original milk tea drink features chewy tapioca “pearls” – also known as boba – but people these days are getting creative with the recipe and are taking it beyond the beverage. Invented in Taiwan in the 1980s, unsurprisingly, it is also here where you find the most diverse range of boba treats. We sampled five of them in Taipei. 1. Boba pizza Internet users were divided when pictures of tapioca balls on a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3009650/beyond-bubble-tea-five-creative-boba-treats-sending-taiwanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3009650/beyond-bubble-tea-five-creative-boba-treats-sending-taiwanese?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 May 2019 05:00:15 +0000 Why this topic again? By the time the Post asked Chinese filmmaker Bai Xue the question, she had already answered it five times that day, and not surprisingly it elicited a groan and the quip: “We should do a group interview next time.” There was, however, good reason for the curiosity. The 34-year-old director’s feature debut, The Crossing, is about a high-school girl, Peipei (played by Huang Yao), who commutes daily between Hong Kong, where she studies, and Shenzhen in Guangdong province,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3009167/tale-two-cities-director-her-film-about-teen-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3009167/tale-two-cities-director-her-film-about-teen-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2019 09:59:09 +0000 Wong Pui-lam and Kelvin Lau Tsz-ho were nervous as they stepped onto the scorching sand of Indonesia’s JSC Beachball Arena at the Asian Games in Palembang last August. The beach volleyball duo from Hong Kong had fought against all odds to come this far. Success at the Asian Games, which happen every four years, had always been their ultimate goal – everything they had worked for. But something was not right. Lau had been feeling unwell on his way to Indonesia and now on the field, he was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3008746/leukaemia-how-cancer-diagnosis-destroyed-sporting-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3008746/leukaemia-how-cancer-diagnosis-destroyed-sporting-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 May 2019 22:00:12 +0000 Before Chinese sci-fi epic The Wandering Earth hit cinemas in February, a group of authors, including heavyweight Liu Cixin – who wrote the novella on which the film is based – gathered for a pre-screening. When the final credits rolled, everyone was crying tears of joy. “It was the first time we’d seen a science fiction film with Chinese faces and it was so natural,” says Regina Wang Kanyu, who was among the writers visiting Hong Kong in late March for the third edition of the Melon science... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3008272/where-chinese-sci-fi-heading-after-wandering-earth-writers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3008272/where-chinese-sci-fi-heading-after-wandering-earth-writers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 May 2019 21:00:13 +0000 Though she earned her nickname from the daughter of the Addams Family for her penchant for strong eyeliner and black clothes during a period in university, these days, Wednesday Wu looks nothing like her namesake character. The bold eyeliner – which covers almost her entire eyelid and that she styles with an additional stroke on top – remains and so does the name, but her style has evolved over the past 10 years. “It’s very hard to define because it is always a combination of different elements.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3008075/taiwanese-fashionista-wednesday-wu-her-unique-style-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3008075/taiwanese-fashionista-wednesday-wu-her-unique-style-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Apr 2019 23:15:10 +0000 Rachel Cheung Rachel Cheung Like most of her peers, Taiwanese millennial, Lin Chi, used to spend a large chunk of her income on rent for a tiny flat, which offered no more than a place to sleep. The space was so cramped, the 28-year-old would rather spend her leisure time in McDonald’s, or stay in her car browsing her phone after work. However, now sharing a spacious flat in Taipei with two unlikely housemates – a full time volunteer in her 70s and a security guard in his 60s – Lin has found a new home and family. Riding... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3007482/taiwanese-millennials-and-retirees-become-housemates-rental-affordability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3007482/taiwanese-millennials-and-retirees-become-housemates-rental-affordability?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Apr 2019 23:15:09 +0000 Internet users are divided over Chinese celebrity Angelababy’s cover shoot for T Magazine, the Chinese edition of The New York Times Style Magazine. The magazine has released nine photos, taken on a beach in Phuket, Thailand, by fashion photographer Fan Xin, on microblogging platform Weibo. One of the photos is a nod to a photo of Chinese actress Gong Li posing on the beach. The actress, whose real name is Angela Yeung Wing, started her career as a model at the age of 13. Though some praised the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3007515/angelababys-thailand-beach-photo-shoot-comes-under-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3007515/angelababys-thailand-beach-photo-shoot-comes-under-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:00:13 +0000 If you have dry, overprocessed hair, John Masters’ Shampoo and Conditioner for Damaged Hair with Honey & Hibiscus (HK$330 each/175ml) are here to rescue you. They also contain sunflower seed oil and shea butter but, more importantly, what they don’t have is silicone, sodium lauryl sulphate, parabens and synthetic fragrances. Rahua’s Color Full Shampoo (HK$320/275ml) and Conditioner (HK$340/275ml) can help prevent brassy tones and keep your colour-treated hair from fading. The plant-based... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3006416/four-shampoos-vibrant-healthy-hair-including-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3006416/four-shampoos-vibrant-healthy-hair-including-one?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Apr 2019 02:30:11 +0000 In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Yukihiko Tsutsumi has churned out more than 70 films, TV shows and documentaries, including such popular features as 20th Century Boys (2008-09), the futuristic film trilogy based on a popular manga, and Initiative Love (2015), a gimmicky romantic comedy. While many of his efforts were commercial films made with sizeable budgets and bankable stars, the prolific Japanese director, now in his 60s, says he is taking a different path with his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3005408/12-suicidal-teens-blockbuster-director-explores-japans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3005408/12-suicidal-teens-blockbuster-director-explores-japans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Apr 2019 23:00:13 +0000 Survive the Hong Kong humidity with Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Dipbrow Gel (HK$150). Available in six colours, this game-changing product has a waterproof formula that ensures your brows will not budge or melt. Its instant intensity, however, requires a light hand during application. Those with time to take over their make-up might be interested in Benefit’s The Great Brow Basics (HK$345). Step one, create realistic-looking hair with tiny strokes using the Precisely My Brow pencil. Step two,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3004425/four-eyebrow-products-promise-survive-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3004425/four-eyebrow-products-promise-survive-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2019 04:45:03 +0000 Cinema audiences in the 1980s watched a futuristic vision of the year 2019 that included killer robots, flying cars -- and an almost entirely American cast. Fast forward to today, and one of the biggest global blockbusters is The Wandering Earth, which has an almost entirely Chinese cast and is based on a novella by China's most famous science fiction writer, Liu Cixin. Liu was the first Chinese writer to win a coveted Hugo Award, which honours the year's best science fiction. He has helped to... https://www.scmp.com/podcasts/article/3004036/inside-china-golden-age-chinese-science-fiction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/podcasts/article/3004036/inside-china-golden-age-chinese-science-fiction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Mar 2019 13:30:11 +0000 It’s 11am and in two-and-a-half hours BTS, the biggest K-pop outfit in the world, are due to arrive in Hong Kong as part of their Love Yourself World Tour. A small crowd of around two dozen fans are waiting by the special exit at the airport arrival lobby where celebrities are usually hurried into private cars. The have touched the hearts of teenagers around the world with their lyrics – which speak about issues such as bullying and depression – and even appeal to their mothers with their good... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3003457/who-are-bts-army-we-join-some-k-pop-superfans-stakeout-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3003457/who-are-bts-army-we-join-some-k-pop-superfans-stakeout-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Mar 2019 13:00:06 +0000 BTS have shattered the image of K-pop bands as heavily manufactured by entertainment companies. They are taking over the world with their music, with lyrics that speak to contemporary issues, and with their authenticity. The band’s popularity is reflected in their album sales. They were the second bestselling global artist of 2018, second only to Drake, and recently broke the record for most album pre-orders – one they had already set – with 2.6 million pre-orders of their upcoming album, Map of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3002644/bts-love-yourself-world-tour-k-pop-idols-drive-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3002644/bts-love-yourself-world-tour-k-pop-idols-drive-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2019 06:34:34 +0000 For everyday wear, go for Benefit’s Cheekleaders Bronze Squad cheek palette (HK$540, above), which brings together our favourite shades from the brand, such as Gold Rush and Hoola. It works well with most skin tones, subtly enhancing your features without looking too heavy. Those who are new to contouring can start with Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand (HK$320). The spongy applicator is easy to control, so there is no need to worry about going overboard. Should you accidentally apply... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3002361/four-contouring-kits-ideal-every-day-wear-or?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3002361/four-contouring-kits-ideal-every-day-wear-or?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Mar 2019 01:30:09 +0000 Actors lead glamorous, privileged lives – or so we think. Yet that is hardly the case for Fish Liew Tsz-yu, star of award-winning Hong Kong films No. 1 Chung Ying Street (2018) and Sisterhood (2016), who shares the woes of residents in the world’s priciest housing market. “I wish I could live in a bigger flat, but the rent here is so expensive,” says Liew, who lives in a 200 sq ft flat in a modest Hong Kong neighbourhood. The tiny flats, a general lack of space and the common practice of sharing... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3002200/who-fish-liew-meet-malaysian-actress-who-has-braved-nude?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3002200/who-fish-liew-meet-malaysian-actress-who-has-braved-nude?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:45:10 +0000 Hawkers have been peddling their wares on the streets of Hong Kong since there was little more than a fishing village on the island. By the 1960s, the street-vending scene had reached its peak and vibrant, bustling, fragrant collections of hawker stalls – offering everything from snacks to cheap house­hold goods and newspapers – could be found serving communities across the territory. Nearly one in six of the population made a living by selling their wares in the open and almost everyone who... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3001878/hawkers-hong-kong-and-los-angeles-two-cities-two?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3001878/hawkers-hong-kong-and-los-angeles-two-cities-two?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:15:06 +0000 Jumping on the Korean dewy skin band­wagon, Dior has introduced a new version of its iconic product – Forever Skin Glow (HK$470/30ml). Launched last month, the foundation has received five-star reviews for its highly moisturising and weightless qualities. Shu Uemura’s Unlimited Foundation (HK$400/35ml) caters for the subtle differences in Asian skin tones, which also makes it difficult to find the right colour match. Make sure you try the product in-store before buying it. Blending flawlessly... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/2188698/foundation-asian-skin-plus-three-more-flawless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/2188698/foundation-asian-skin-plus-three-more-flawless?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Mar 2019 03:32:54 +0000 It’s the epitome of Hong Kong’s no-frills, hustle-and-bustle dim sum culture. Lin Heung Tea House, which has been in the city for over 100 years, has become famous for providing piping hot food in bamboo steamers—which people have to then fight over. Unlike many dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities, where trolleys go around a dining room, customers at Lin Heung converge on a cart in the middle of the room, where they tussle over a limited number of... https://www.scmp.com/food/hong-kong-restaurant-you-have-fight-your-dim-sum/article/3000961?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/food/hong-kong-restaurant-you-have-fight-your-dim-sum/article/3000961?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:06:43 +0000