https://www.scmp.com/rss/324255/feed As senior content editor of the South China Morning Post’s Specialist Publications, Laramie is a seasoned Hong Kong native who shares insights into the dynamic city she calls home. With over 10 years of experience writing for local media spanning arts, culture, fashion and lifestyle, she is passionate about documenting the city's modern trends and timeless traditions. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Crammed with skyscrapers, Hong Kong’s skyline – not to mention its pace of life – can seem overwhelming, but a plethora of quiet retreats await beyond the bustling city centre. For those seeking an alternative to traditional five star hotels or yearning for a unique staycation experience, consider exploring these villas and mansions that offer a combination of serenity, privacy and unmatched luxury. And with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day fast approaching, it’s never too early to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3236137/6-fabulously-exclusive-villas-hong-kong-staycation-hidden-mansion-and-seaside-retreat-serene-lantau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3236137/6-fabulously-exclusive-villas-hong-kong-staycation-hidden-mansion-and-seaside-retreat-serene-lantau?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:00:17 +0000 Ever since the border between Hong Kong and mainland China reopened and quarantine-free travel resumed, the city’s residents have been flocking to nearby Shenzhen for shopping. Hongkongers have made over 22.4 million visits, or about 900,000 every week, to Shenzhen between February and late July, to be precise, according to Immigration Department statistics. Besides cheaper costs just across the Shenzhen River, the city’s rapid urbanisation saw plenty of new buildings sprout up over the past 30... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3235710/8-best-shenzhen-hotels-weekend-staycation-urban-gems-st-regis-and-muji-hotel-and-beach-retreats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3235710/8-best-shenzhen-hotels-weekend-staycation-urban-gems-st-regis-and-muji-hotel-and-beach-retreats?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Sep 2023 10:30:15 +0000 Laufey’s hauntingly beautiful vocals, reminiscent of the cello’s deep resonance, create a sonic landscape that bewitches listeners from the very first note. With her 2020 debut single “Street by Street”, Laufey caught the attention of industry icons like Billie Eilish, Willow Smith, V of BTS and Dodie, propelling her into the spotlight with a force that cannot be ignored. Her music is a captivating blend of contemporary jazz and pop that transcends generations. Her distinctive fashion style... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3235009/meet-laufey-icelandic-chinese-gen-z-musical-talent-her-record-breaking-debut-album-bewitched-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3235009/meet-laufey-icelandic-chinese-gen-z-musical-talent-her-record-breaking-debut-album-bewitched-her?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:30:22 +0000 “One can skip meals, but one cannot stop buying clothes” – questionable it may be, but the phrase is one of Teresa Cheung’s most well-known maxims. Once a luminary in Hong Kong’s social scene during the 90s, Cheung has ingeniously found a new role within mainland China’s burgeoning live-streaming arena. With 1.2 million followers on the social media platform Xiaohongshu, Cheung has become a trusted voice, dispensing her insights on fashion and beauty. On May 22, she unveiled her first... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3228843/how-teresa-cheung-became-live-stream-shopping-star-china-hong-kong-actress-and-ex-wife-singer-kenny?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3228843/how-teresa-cheung-became-live-stream-shopping-star-china-hong-kong-actress-and-ex-wife-singer-kenny?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jul 2023 01:00:14 +0000 According to Dyson’s 2022 Global Hair study, 92 per cent of Hong Kong respondents wash their hair at least every two days, higher than the global average of 78 per cent. No surprise there. The hot and humid climate in the fragrant harbour, especially during the summer monsoon season, presents some unique challenges for our hair, including increased oil production from the scalp and sweat, causing it to quickly become dirty, flat and limp. But don’t despair – your next bad hair day can be... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3227429/6-expert-approved-products-taming-unruly-hair-summer-joey-yungs-celeb-stylist-shares-her-tips-and-we?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3227429/6-expert-approved-products-taming-unruly-hair-summer-joey-yungs-celeb-stylist-shares-her-tips-and-we?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:00:53 +0000 This summer, the city of Hong Kong will once more be electrified by the onstage charisma of Mirror – the beloved Cantopop boy band that has captured the hearts of millions. Four of its members – Jer Lau, Anson Lo, Keung To and Edan Lui – embark on thrilling solo concerts in July and August, as a new chapter in their musical journeys unfolds. Leading the way is Jer Lau Ying-ting, who will perform his first-ever solo concert from July 7 to 10 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3226906/deconstructing-mirror-star-jer-laus-eclectic-style-cantopop-icon-stages-his-first-solo-show-july?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3226906/deconstructing-mirror-star-jer-laus-eclectic-style-cantopop-icon-stages-his-first-solo-show-july?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:00:12 +0000 “When I first saw the movie A Better Tomorrow, I was attracted by Chow Yun-fat’s cool-looking character, and I was around 12 years old at that time,” recalls Stephen Fung Tak-lun in a sit-down interview with Style, reminiscing about the lasting impact the film left on his young mind. “As a kid, you’re drawn to the action and style, but as an adult, you appreciate the themes of brotherhood and moral code in the movie.” Where does Chow Yun-fat eat in Hong Kong? From egg tarts to Lamma seafood The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3226650/stephen-fung-chow-yun-fat-john-woo-and-elon-musk-hong-kong-movie-actor-and-director-reflects-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3226650/stephen-fung-chow-yun-fat-john-woo-and-elon-musk-hong-kong-movie-actor-and-director-reflects-action?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:15:15 +0000 With one million followers on Instagram watching his every move, Keung To has become no stranger to the luxury fashion scene. In the half-decade since he debuted as one-twelfth of traffic-stopping Cantopop boy group Mirror, Keung has been tapped to serve as a darling ambassador for a long list of brands – and duly appears everywhere sporting them. Indeed, for a Hongkonger, whether you are making your daily commute or surfing the internet at home, it’s difficult not to encounter the 23-year-old’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3218681/mirrors-keung-his-new-fashion-brand-zero-hong-kongs-beloved-cantopop-star-talks-about-subtraction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3218681/mirrors-keung-his-new-fashion-brand-zero-hong-kongs-beloved-cantopop-star-talks-about-subtraction?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:04:18 +0000 It has been two decades since the Cantopop legend Leslie Cheung left us on April 1, 2003. An array of commemorative activities took place in Hong Kong recently, such as the release of the Remembrance Leslie album, a concert and exhibitions, showing the city’s nostalgia for the beloved star. Here we take a walk down memory lane, not just remembering an all-time superstar, but also paying homage to his creative team behind the scenes over the years. They include fashion designers Eddie Lau and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3215632/5-creatives-behind-leslie-cheung-hong-kong-legend-fashion-designer-jean-paul-gaultier-wing-shya?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3215632/5-creatives-behind-leslie-cheung-hong-kong-legend-fashion-designer-jean-paul-gaultier-wing-shya?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2023 23:00:13 +0000 Hongkongers are comedy lovers. This much is obvious from the outstanding box office figures for comedy films over the years. According to the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA), more than half of the highest-grossing local films in the past 50 years (1971 to 2020) were comedies. Many people may already know Hong Kong’s “King of Comedy” Stephen Chow, but there are many other names that lent important impetus to the evolution of the local scene. Let’s take a look at those comedy... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3165389/5-hong-kong-comedy-film-stars-whove-kept-us-laughing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3165389/5-hong-kong-comedy-film-stars-whove-kept-us-laughing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Feb 2022 04:00:18 +0000 Given the opportunities for work in mainland China, it’s no surprise that more Hong Kong celebrities are moving their homes to first-tier cities on the mainland like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – and that includes actress Carina Lau (Days of Being Wild), who was born and raised in Suzhou and is now based in Shanghai. Lau reportedly owns several flats in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou, but recently, several local media outlets have reported that she is putting her luxury three-storey... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164215/carina-lau-selling-her-shanghai-penthouse-us28-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164215/carina-lau-selling-her-shanghai-penthouse-us28-million?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:26:33 +0000 There’s no denying that celebrities – especially women – are constantly scrutinised for their looks, particularly their weight and physique. And the pressure to fit the public’s perception of what’s considered “perfect” can be extremely detrimental, especially for major A-listers who are constantly in the media spotlight. Fortunately, the tide is beginning to turn thanks to the myriad of stars who’ve clapped back against the haters and ushered in a slightly more body-positive or – body-neutral –... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3160386/5-hong-kong-celebrities-who-hit-back-body-shaming-trolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3160386/5-hong-kong-celebrities-who-hit-back-body-shaming-trolls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Dec 2021 05:17:33 +0000 It’s certainly not difficult to name iconic Hong Kong actors from different eras, but there are not many stars who get the coveted title of “legend”. The lives of male superstars, like the late martial artist Bruce Lee, have been adapted into countless films and TV series throughout the years, but renditions of local female icons have largely been absent from cinema. But this year, audiences will be treated to the biopic Anita about Canto-pop singer and actress Anita Mui Yim-fong, who was also... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3155542/i-am-not-anita-mui-louise-wong-playing-canto-pop-legend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3155542/i-am-not-anita-mui-louise-wong-playing-canto-pop-legend?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Nov 2021 08:15:11 +0000 October 10 marks the birthday of the late Canto-pop megastar Anita Mui Yim-fong, who would be turning 58 years old this year if she were still alive. But this year is more celebratory than most. In memory of the legendary singer and actress, biopic Anita will be released in Hong Kong cinemas in November, with model-turned-actress Louise Wong starring as Mui. Who are Stephen Chow’s most famous ‘Sing Girls’, and where are they now? In addition, Louis Koo, Terrance Lau and Fish Liew will star as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3151807/5-anita-mui-videos-treasure-jiving-jackie-chan-duetting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3151807/5-anita-mui-videos-treasure-jiving-jackie-chan-duetting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Oct 2021 03:00:24 +0000 Besides being world famous for its spectacular views and skyline, Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is also well known for its deep water, which allows for 10,000-tonne ships to dock and easily move through the heart of the city. Fifty years ago, the RMS Queen Elizabeth – the largest ocean liner in the world at that time – arrived in Hong Kong. However, no one would have expected that the final destination of this titan was the seabed of Victoria Harbour. Today, parts of the wreck are still lying at... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3144126/old-hong-kongs-50-year-old-shipwreck-how-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3144126/old-hong-kongs-50-year-old-shipwreck-how-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 01:00:16 +0000 A Quiet Place Part II – originally expected to be released in March 2020 – has set a pandemic-era record in the US, taking US$48 million on its debut late last month, according to Box Office Mojo. Now the sequel to A Quiet Place (2018) has come to theatres in Hong Kong. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt at 15: from her 2021 makeover to potential dance ambitions Besides its success at the box office, deaf character Regan Abbott in the film, portrayed by 18-year-old actress Millicent Simmonds, is also a hot... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3136960/5-celebrities-who-defied-chronic-conditions-find-fame?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3136960/5-celebrities-who-defied-chronic-conditions-find-fame?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jun 2021 01:00:00 +0000 It’s a tough time for cinemas. While there are theatres closing down – local cinema chain UA lowered its curtains for the last time earlier this year – there are also new cinemas being launched in movie-loving Hong Kong. There’s the sci-fi themed ACX Cinemas in North Point’s Harbour North shopping mall and the independent four-house Golden Scene in Kennedy Town. It’s also been confirmed that another Emperor Cinema will be coming to Times Square. Meanwhile characterful movie theatres of the past... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135995/beatles-cantonese-opera-alien-miss-universe-old-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135995/beatles-cantonese-opera-alien-miss-universe-old-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jun 2021 01:00:16 +0000 Lunar New Year’s Eve is typically a time when the whole family gets together, with multiple generations – from grandparents to grandkids – gathering for the Spring Festival reunion dinner, or to hang out in front of the television while making dumplings for the festive meal.  As the world’s most-watched TV show, it’s safe to say the Spring Festival Gala television show – Chunwan in Chinese and dubbed “China’s Super Bowl” – contributes to the celebratory mood on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Also known... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3121291/whats-deal-cctvs-spring-festival-gala-why-chinas-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3121291/whats-deal-cctvs-spring-festival-gala-why-chinas-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Feb 2021 04:00:09 +0000 The smell of popcorn, the big screen, the immersive surround sound, and the moment we settle into our favourite seats … watching a film at the cinema is definitely a inimitable experience. 7 most iconic leading men of Hong Kong’s golden age of cinema As we look forward (fingers crossed) to the easing of the pandemic later this year, let’s take a look at upcoming Hong Kong films that will be too good to miss: Sons of the Neon Night, which saw a 1:1 recreation of the Causeway Bay cityscape, Ann... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3119138/6-most-anticipated-new-hong-kong-films-2021-tony-leung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3119138/6-most-anticipated-new-hong-kong-films-2021-tony-leung?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Jan 2021 08:43:42 +0000 Celebrities are today more accessible to their fans than ever before – thanks in large part to social media, as well as the proliferation of reality TV shows, another way to get a heavily curated glimpse at how the rich and famous really live. In the past few years, reality shows have blossomed in mainland China, with ratings hits such as Super Mom (媽媽是超人) and Viva La Romance (妻子的浪漫旅行), giving local celebrities a chance to show what they are made of, and also sometimes offering audiences a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3117469/angelababy-guo-jingming-or-huang-shengyi-which-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3117469/angelababy-guo-jingming-or-huang-shengyi-which-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Jan 2021 01:00:14 +0000 The golden age of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry ran from the 1970s to the early 1990s, a prosperous period when the city’s stars were household names among the Chinese-speaking community worldwide. In the past decade however pop culture fans’ attention has turned towards K-pop and Hong Kong artists have instead been taking their acts to the more lucrative mainland China market. Hong Kong-raised stars such as Angelababy, G.E.M., Nicolas Tse and William Chan have leveraged their increased... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3113329/which-chinese-drama-stars-started-hong-kong-movies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3113329/which-chinese-drama-stars-started-hong-kong-movies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Dec 2020 05:18:23 +0000 Despite the fact that every K-pop song is different, there are nevertheless a handful of key ingredients – synthesised music, punchy dance routines and fashionable outfits – and they’re probably the reason the genre has taken the world by storm in the first place. So important are the dance routines to K-pop’s success, in fact, that anyone who says they don’t energetically dance along to most of the music videos, especially when nobody is watching, is probably lying. Which brings us to YouTuber... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/k-pop/bands/article/3110790/blackpink-dance-cover-queen-ky-meet-youtuber-who-joins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/k-pop/bands/article/3110790/blackpink-dance-cover-queen-ky-meet-youtuber-who-joins?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Nov 2020 01:00:25 +0000 Different cultures share different spooky stories, and where the Western world is taught to fear vampires and zombies, Chinese folklore shuns jiangshi, which directly translates to “stiff corpses”. They’re also known as “Chinese hopping zombies” or “Chinese hopping vampires” for how they get around. You might have spotted the undead monster – traditionally recognisable for its dark robes, red-topped cap, forehead talisman and deathly pale skin – in movies, TV shows or video games. ‘Be water’:... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3107548/halloween-special-what-are-chinese-hopping-zombies-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3107548/halloween-special-what-are-chinese-hopping-zombies-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Oct 2020 03:56:07 +0000 Under the watchful gaze of Mao Zedong’s portrait, hundreds of tourists hold up selfie sticks, snapping pictures as they queue to pass through The Gate of Heavenly Peace, aka Tiananmen, the imposing front entrance of Beijing’s imperial palace. No one could have imagined this scene in the early 20th century when the palace, now a national museum, was still home to the emperor. The vast complex served as the Chinese royal residence for more than five centuries. And as the name Forbidden City... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3107282/beijings-forbidden-city-600-years-old-5-mind-blowing-facts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3107282/beijings-forbidden-city-600-years-old-5-mind-blowing-facts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:27:04 +0000 “Buy it now! Buy it now! Five, four, three, two, one … it’s all sold out!” yells Viya Huang, the Chinese live stream host who once shifted 5,000 pairs of jeans in a matter of seconds during a live sales session. Live streaming e-commerce in China is nothing new. In 2014, Chinese fashion e-commerce platform Mogujie began to experiment with it, and was quickly followed by Taobao, the world’s biggest e-commerce website, founded by Alibaba – owner of the South China Morning Post – soon after. In... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3103099/yang-mi-fan-bingbing-and-angelababy-among-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3103099/yang-mi-fan-bingbing-and-angelababy-among-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2020 22:00:17 +0000 Eileen Chang was “the best and most important writer in Chinese today”, literary scholar C.T. Hsia once claimed in his authoritative book A History of Modern Chinese Fiction, 1917-1957, published in 1961. Born into a Shanghai family, Eileen Chang (1920-1995) was arguably one of the most important writers in 20th century China. In the Western world, some scholars have often compared Chang with Jane Austen for her ability to dissect, in minute detail, the mundane things in life that affect human... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3100486/ann-huis-love-after-love-ang-lees-lust-caution-and-4-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3100486/ann-huis-love-after-love-ang-lees-lust-caution-and-4-more?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2020 04:24:57 +0000 Over the past four decades, rumours about the death of martial arts legend Bruce Lee have never abated, even though official autopsy reports at the time concluded it was a tragic case of death by misadventure. The allegations and gossip centre on the fact that Lee’s body was found in the flat of his rumoured girlfriend, Betty Ting Pei – a Taiwanese actress working for the Shaw Brothers’ film studio at the time. Lee’s death, at the age of just 32, would also shadow Ting’s life for years to come.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3098784/bruce-lees-death-who-was-betty-ting-pei-rumoured-lover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3098784/bruce-lees-death-who-was-betty-ting-pei-rumoured-lover?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2020 02:00:14 +0000 Hong Kong cinema has lost an iconic action film director with the death of Benny Chan Muk-sing, who passed away at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on Sunday (August 23). Chan had started to feel unwell last year when he was shooting the action movie Raging Fire (怒火), starring Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse. He was then diagnosed with late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer. View this post on Instagram Official #Poster for #BennyChan's #RagingFire featuring... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3098704/donnie-yen-fan-bingbing-and-aaron-kwok-lead-tributes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3098704/donnie-yen-fan-bingbing-and-aaron-kwok-lead-tributes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:40:13 +0000 The Hong Kong film industry boomed in the 1980s, earning the nickname “The Hollywood of the East”. Numerous celebrities, such as Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung and Cherie Chung, rose to stardom through appearing in acclaimed movies throughout that decade. The boom had its roots in the late 1970s with the advent of new film technologies and the on-screen adoption of many elements of Western films, in what became known as the Hong Kong New Wave. If you are a fan of Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3095264/hong-kong-movie-quiz-how-many-these-80s-new-wave-classics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3095264/hong-kong-movie-quiz-how-many-these-80s-new-wave-classics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2020 03:00:12 +0000 The flamboyant casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun passed away on May 26 at the age of 98. His funeral began at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in Quarry Bay today (July 9) and will last until July 10. The public can bid farewell to the local legend, starting from 2pm (Hong Kong time), at the main hall on the ground floor today (July 9). The list of the funeral committee was revealed on July 7 and the members include various key political and business figures such as former chief executives of Hong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3092349/bruce-lee-stanley-ho-where-are-hong-kongs-dead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3092349/bruce-lee-stanley-ho-where-are-hong-kongs-dead?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2020 00:00:10 +0000 On May 26, legendary Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun died in Hong Kong at the age of 98. Yet, before Ho’s funeral – which has been set to take place on July 9 – the public has recently witnessed a debate over the distribution of his inheritance between his four wives and 17 children, as the rift deepens among the sisters in the first family. With his successful business empire, that survived several Portuguese and Chinese administrations, Ho was a legend. However, it is perhaps lesser... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3091050/who-was-sir-robert-hotung-great-uncle-late-casino-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3091050/who-was-sir-robert-hotung-great-uncle-late-casino-king?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jun 2020 02:00:19 +0000 Pak Suet-sin (白雪仙) is a renowned Cantonese opera diva who strove to improve and enhance the art form and nurture young talents to ensure the continuity of Cantonese opera. Together with Yam Kim-fai (任劍輝), her lifelong collaborator, they staged a diversity of well-known operas in their bid to make Cantonese operatic art more accessible. We take a look at her legendary life, flashing back to her career heyday spanning from the 1940s to 1960s. Her father was one of the ‘Four Kings of Cantonese... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3087193/how-cantonese-opera-legend-pak-suet-sin-lgbt-icon-and-yam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3087193/how-cantonese-opera-legend-pak-suet-sin-lgbt-icon-and-yam?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2020 22:00:12 +0000 We have been social distancing for months thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Sporting events, concerts and other mass gatherings have been cancelled. However, as the American writer and philosopher Robert M. Pirsig quipped: “Boredom always precedes a period of great creativity”. Perhaps we all need to be a little bored to generate our most inventive ideas. A collection of various games and activities found inside the Forbidden City in Beijing may shed light on how the royals – who were never... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3086274/bored-self-isolation-10-ways-qing-dynasty-royals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3086274/bored-self-isolation-10-ways-qing-dynasty-royals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2020 04:14:07 +0000 Teresa Teng, the legendary Taiwanese singer who is regarded as one of the greatest singers in Asian recording history, died after an asthma attack in the Thai city of Chiang Mai 25 years ago on May 8. Teng, who was known as Deng Lijun in Mandarin, was 42 at the time, and had enjoyed a career spanning 30 years with her powerful ballads and folk songs. There is a saying that “Wherever there are Chinese people, Teresa Teng’s songs can be heard”. Teng was not only a household name in Taiwan and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3083112/5-teresa-tengs-songs-each-different-language-25-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3083112/5-teresa-tengs-songs-each-different-language-25-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2020 10:00:12 +0000 Regarded as the dragon lady, Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) was the virtual ruler of China for almost the last half-century of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Cixi was arguably a household name, notorious for her extravagant lifestyle and autocratic leadership. Without concerning herself with the hardships facing the general populace, she was always depicted as cruel and oppressive, and was to blame for the end of the dynasty. Within the Forbidden City, everyone had to be absolutely loyal to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3082151/was-empress-dowager-cixi-original-cosplayer-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3082151/was-empress-dowager-cixi-original-cosplayer-over?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2020 07:00:20 +0000 Often referred to as an enigma in Hong Kong’s entertainment world, Tina Leung Kwok-hing – widely known as Ti Na – led a colourful life both on and off screen. She passed away at the age of 65 in the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on March 31, 2010, due to multiple organ failure. Throughout Leung’s cinematic career, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, she made 54 films. Although she later left showbiz and engaged in different businesses both in Hong Kong and mainland China, her performances are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3077608/who-was-tina-leung-ti-na-hong-kong-movie-star-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3077608/who-was-tina-leung-ti-na-hong-kong-movie-star-who?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2020 01:00:10 +0000 Hong Kong’s Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurants in Aberdeen Harbour is another victim of the coronavirus, having been forced to close its doors for the immediate future. The iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant and the Tai Pak Floating Restaurant are popular with tourists, and many Hongkongers will have fond memories of eating there. The Jumbo Floating Restaurant was opened in 1976 by Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun, and is operated by Melco’s subsidiary Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises. It... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3076746/queen-elizabeth-chow-yun-fat-gong-li-and-tom-cruise-have?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3076746/queen-elizabeth-chow-yun-fat-gong-li-and-tom-cruise-have?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2020 03:00:23 +0000 When we talk about the Chinese actresses who have achieved international recognition, the following names spring to mind: Nancy Kwan in The World of Suzie Wong (1960), Joan Chen and Vivian Wu in The Last Emperor (1987), Gong Li in Red Sorghum (1988) and Zhang Ziyi in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). More recent blockbusters can elevate Fan Bingbing, Li Bingbing and Jing Tian to that select group. The roll-call of Chinese actresses stretches all the way back to 1919 when a 14-year-old girl... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3049501/remember-anna-may-wong-first-chinese-movie-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3049501/remember-anna-may-wong-first-chinese-movie-star?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:00:10 +0000 Chinese singer-songwriter Faye Wong is turning 50 today. During her long career, she has made some loud fashion statements that have transformed the songbird with an ethereal voice into a style icon. 1. The Grunge style If you are a fan of 1990s rock music, grunge fashion might also have been your favourite style at that time. Grunge is a rock music genre and subculture that emerged in the mid-1980s, and became popular in the early 1990s. The fashion style that went with the music is usually... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3022010/6-most-iconic-looks-queen-canto-pop-faye-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3022010/6-most-iconic-looks-queen-canto-pop-faye-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:22:57 +0000 When we talk about the most significant figures on the Hong Kong music scene over the years, a number of big names spring to mind. Superstars such as Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, Danny Chan and Alan Tam lit up Canto-pop showbiz in the 1980s, while the “Four Heavenly Kings” – Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Leon Lai and Aaron Kwok – dominated the local music scene in the 1990s. Many of my partners in music were involved in this song and, to me, this was very touching and memorable. I don’t know if there... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3020176/5-memorable-moments-singer-eason-chans-career-you-may?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3020176/5-memorable-moments-singer-eason-chans-career-you-may?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2019 07:00:04 +0000 Shi Peipu, a Chinese opera singer who was born in Shandong province, died in a French nursing home in Paris, aged 70, on June 30, 2009. An aide revealed his death to Agence France-Presse. However, when Bernard Boursicot, Shi’s former lover, was asked about Shi’s death in a telephone interview, he showed no sympathy. 5 Stephen Chow movies that made him Hong Kong’s comedy king “He did so many things against me that he had no pity for, I think it is stupid to play another game now and say I am... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3016474/who-shi-peipu-chinese-singer-and-spy-who-masqueraded-woman-and-had?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3016474/who-shi-peipu-chinese-singer-and-spy-who-masqueraded-woman-and-had?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jun 2019 01:00:15 +0000 Whether you are a Generation X member brought up on TVB Jade’s children’s programme, 430 Space Shuttle, during the 1980s, or a fan of those Cantonese mo lei tau (“silly talk” or “makes no sense”) comedies in the 90s, there can be no denying the enormous contribution Hong Kong’s “king of comedy” Stephen Chow Sing-chi has made to the Hong Kong movie industry. Chow, who started out as an extra at Rediffusion Television, joined Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) in 1981. He switched to the silver... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3015490/5-stephen-chow-movies-made-him-hong-kongs-king-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3015490/5-stephen-chow-movies-made-him-hong-kongs-king-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jun 2019 02:00:08 +0000 It has been nearly three decades since the blockbuster animated film Aladdin was released in 1992. Disney’s 2019 live-action adaptation of the same name was released on May 24 internationally and has done wonders at the box office. According to Box Office Mojo, the musical has raked in more than US$454 million (as of June 5) worldwide and is the third-highest grossing movie in the United States this year, beaten only by Avengers: Endgame (US$815 million) and Captain Marvel (US$426... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3013183/5-things-you-should-know-about-naomi-scott-princess?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3013183/5-things-you-should-know-about-naomi-scott-princess?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:00:06 +0000 The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival, which began last week in Cannes, in the south of France, is running until Saturday. This year, there are four Chinese films competing for various awards at the prestigious French festival. Summer of Changsha and Nina Wu are both vying for the Un Certain Regard award, while She Runs is among the contenders for the short film award. The Wild Goose Lake – starring the leading mainland Chinese actors Hu Ge and Liao Fan, as well as the Taiwanese actress Gwei... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3011258/5-most-memorable-chinese-films-have-been-honoured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3011258/5-most-memorable-chinese-films-have-been-honoured?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 May 2019 03:27:38 +0000 “Food is the god of people,” according to an ancient Chinese proverb, meaning that food comes first – above everything else – for the Chinese. Examining details of the imperial dishes prepared for generations of the nation’s royal family is definitely one of the ways to understand the history of Chinese cuisine, which stretches across thousands of years. 80 dishes and more: the lavish Lunar New Year’s Eve banquet fit for a Chinese emperor The emperors always had the money and power to hire the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2184918/why-did-empress-dowager-cixi-add-chrysanthemum-petals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2184918/why-did-empress-dowager-cixi-add-chrysanthemum-petals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Feb 2019 02:30:18 +0000 China’s annual Lunar New Year celebrations traditionally feature a selection of specially prepared – often lavish – dishes eaten together by families. The importance of family at such times means millions of people throughout the nation will be crowding into trains, buses and cars ahead of next week’s holiday to make the annual pilgrimage home so they can be part of Tuesday’s New Year’s Eve meal, also known as the reunion dinner, to mark the occasion. The legendary Lei family of architects who... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2184125/80-dishes-and-more-lavish-lunar-new-years-eve-banquet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2184125/80-dishes-and-more-lavish-lunar-new-years-eve-banquet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Feb 2019 04:03:06 +0000 Over the past decade, Ip Man – the Wing Chun (詠春) grandmaster best-known for teaching martial arts to the superstar actor Bruce Lee – has been a popular character in Hong Kong feature films. Ip, who taught Wing Chun in Hong Kong in the 1960s and early 70s, died in 1972, aged 79. A series of Ip Man films starring Donnie Yen in the title role, all directed by Wilson Yip, began in 2008, while 2013’s The Grandmaster, starring Tony Leung, was directed by the director Wong Kar-wai. 5 of our... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2178820/woman-who-took-ip-man-legendary-martial-artist-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2178820/woman-who-took-ip-man-legendary-martial-artist-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Dec 2018 03:18:13 +0000 Fifty one year-old Jin Xing is a pioneering artist. She is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning contemporary dancer, founder and director of the Shanghai Jin Xing Dance Theatre – China’s first independent dance company – and a celebrated television host of several hit shows in mainland China, such Venus Hits Mars, The Jin Xing Show and Chinese Dating. She is also the first public figure to undergo sex reassignment surgery (SRS) in China. Born in 1967 in Shenyang, Jin has been passionate... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2173609/who-jin-xing-chinas-only-transgender-celebrity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2173609/who-jin-xing-chinas-only-transgender-celebrity?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Nov 2018 09:09:52 +0000 “Vast, vast sadness. Boundless, boundless loss. The song has ended. The moon has been snatched away.” This extract from Louis Cha Leung-yung’s The Book and the Sword now carries significantly more weight following the death of the 94-year-old Chinese literary giant last month. A condolence book for Cha, who wrote under the pen name Jin Yong, will be at the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin later this month for the public to pay their last respects. We take a look at four of Cha’s most popular novels in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2172719/4-louis-cha-leung-yungs-most-iconic-tv-and-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2172719/4-louis-cha-leung-yungs-most-iconic-tv-and-film?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Nov 2018 03:15:45 +0000 The 70-episode Qing dynasty imperial drama Story of Yanxi Palace concluded on August 27 on video platform iQiyi, garnering more than 15 billion views by its finale. Yet, in Hong Kong, the final episode will air on TVB Jade this Saturday. The whole city is astir over the drama, from its Qing dynasty settings to the ancient Chinese make-up and the intricate costume design. What made the drama so successful? Thanks to the high standards and meticulous research of the production team, which made... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2166904/story-yanxi-palace-how-authentic-are-accessories-worn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2166904/story-yanxi-palace-how-authentic-are-accessories-worn?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Oct 2018 02:02:00 +0000