https://www.scmp.com/rss/326212/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang By night, some young Chinese are swapping traditional cocktails for so-called traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) bars, where herbal-infused spirits promise everything from heartbreak cures to wellness boosts. In these dimly lit venues, R&B or rock music pulses through the speakers while behind the bar, drawers brim with herbs rather than bottles. Bartenders in white coats, often certified TCM practitioners, begin each visit by taking pulses and asking about lifestyle habits before crafting... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348517/china-youth-flock-tcm-bars-prescription-cocktails-amid-rise-punk-wellness-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348517/china-youth-flock-tcm-bars-prescription-cocktails-amid-rise-punk-wellness-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The cross-border outlicensing activities of Chinese biotech firms reached a record transaction value of US$60 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by multinational pharmaceutical companies’ growing appetite for the country’s promising drug candidates. The deal value represented a 73 per cent jump from the same period a year earlier, and accounted for nearly half of the total US$135.7 billion worth of agreements signed throughout 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348295/china-biotech-deals-hit-record-innovative-drugs-draw-interest-multinationals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348295/china-biotech-deals-hit-record-innovative-drugs-draw-interest-multinationals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:26:21 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang An emerging form of therapy in China has stirred controversy over blurred boundaries by using sensory tools, touch and hugging to ease clients’ stress. Mainland media reports say workshops and services centred on “intimate touch” have spread across social media since late last year. In quiet, softly lit rooms, intimate touch therapists offer what they describe as emotional healing through light caresses, hugs and sensory tools such as feathers and velvet gloves. Customers typically remove some... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346899/intimate-touch-therapists-spark-china-debate-using-sensory-objects-hugs-help-clients-relax?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346899/intimate-touch-therapists-spark-china-debate-using-sensory-objects-hugs-help-clients-relax?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Long before calorie counting and healthy diets, women in ancient China were already under intense pressure to stay slim, even swallowing cacti or silk in pursuit of what was perceived as perfection. Many assume ancient Chinese women prized fuller figures, but the reality was more nuanced. The Tang dynasty (618–907) is often cited as the classic example, thanks in part to figures such as the female sovereign Wu Zetian and the consort Yang Yuhuan. Yet plumpness was never the sole ideal. In most... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3347118/swallowing-pieces-silk-eating-cacti-or-just-1-meal-day-all-pursuit-thinness-ancient-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3347118/swallowing-pieces-silk-eating-cacti-or-just-1-meal-day-all-pursuit-thinness-ancient-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A man in China who had a 12cm-long metal chopstick lodged in his throat for eight years recently had surgery to remove the object. The man, surnamed Wang, underwent the surgery at Dalian Municipal Central Hospital in northeastern Liaoning province in early March. His experience has shocked internet users, the Daxiang News reported. Eight years ago, Wang swallowed the chopstick by accident while eating and drinking alcohol. At the time he felt pain but did not have any breathing problems. When... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346988/chinese-man-lives-8-years-chopstick-stuck-throat-resisting-surgery-due-fear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346988/chinese-man-lives-8-years-chopstick-stuck-throat-resisting-surgery-due-fear?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Wency Chen,Zhang Tong Wency Chen,Zhang Tong China is counting on artificial intelligence (AI) to help the 450 million people living in rural areas left behind by the nation’s economic boom. Farmers are already benefiting from the technology, using AI offerings such as DeepSeek or ByteDance’s Doubao for help with issues like pig rearing, pest control and government subsidies. The State Council’s “No 1 document” of 2026, extended a push for the “digital upgrading” of farming, with an emphasis on the greater integration of AI, drones, robots... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3346713/ai-narrow-chinas-rural-urban-economic-divide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3346713/ai-narrow-chinas-rural-urban-economic-divide?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:11 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 102-year-old woman from eastern China has won hearts online with her optimistic attitude and unique lifestyle. Jin Baoling, a centenarian from a rural area in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, is frequently visited by her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Known for her longevity and cheerful personality, fellow villagers affectionately call her “Old Baby.” According to the Taizhou Evening News, Jin is mentally sharp and physically healthy, having not visited a hospital in the past 50... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346119/china-old-baby-102-sleeps-15-hours-daily-loves-pig-trotters-wine-has-not-been-hospital-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346119/china-old-baby-102-sleeps-15-hours-daily-loves-pig-trotters-wine-has-not-been-hospital-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Ren Yan Ren Yan My grandma, now in her 90s, has long held together an extended family including four children and six grandchildren. As a Chinese saying goes, “Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure.” While my aunt, father and two uncles all live near her in the same city in northern China, my generation has ventured out to different places. Yet no matter where we have settled, no trip home is complete without a visit to Grandma. When I first moved to Beijing, I had to travel about five hours... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345599/china-some-us-are-keeping-elderly-care-family-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345599/china-some-us-are-keeping-elderly-care-family-now?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China has for the first time included commercial health insurance in its 2026 government work report, signalling efforts to strengthen the country’s social safety net and support the growth of innovative drugs and medical devices. On Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the government would “work faster to develop commercial health insurance” and promote the “high-quality development of innovative drugs and medical devices” to better meet people’s diverse needs. Behind the unusual emphasis... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:12:46 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Hong Kong-listed mainland Chinese pharmaceutical companies are on track to deliver full-year profits, as surging drug sales and lucrative out-licensing deals with global partners start to pay off after years of research and development outlay. “Despite domestic challenges, particularly drug pricing pressure, the earnings performance of innovative drugs should still fare well in China in 2025,” said Tony Ren, head of Asia Healthcare Research at Macquarie Capital. Innovent Biologics, the first... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344928/hong-kong-listed-chinese-drug-firms-set-turn-corner-rising-sales-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344928/hong-kong-listed-chinese-drug-firms-set-turn-corner-rising-sales-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:22 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The authorities in Shanghai have arrested a group of self-styled doctors who carried out “bloodletting therapy” claiming it would remove “evil energy” from people. Footage of three people performing the therapy on a man, which was released by Shanghai TV recently, shocked social media. The video shows that three self-styled doctors insert a long needle into a man’s arm before letting the blood flow out along the needle, forming a small pool of blood on the floor. They reassured the man that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343296/self-styled-china-doctors-nabbed-performing-bloodletting-therapy-remove-evil-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343296/self-styled-china-doctors-nabbed-performing-bloodletting-therapy-remove-evil-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Once, young people in China were obsessed with emulating trendy lifestyles, attending parties, enjoying fine dining and treating consumption as a social currency. But as this fast-paced lifestyle became the norm, many began to feel exhausted. In response, a quieter, more traditional way of living has surfaced, and the young people have started calling themselves “old-school humans”. Last December, some people began sharing stories on social media about spending time with their grandparents at... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343202/china-youth-ditch-fast-living-become-old-school-humans-stories-get-1-billion-views-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343202/china-youth-ditch-fast-living-become-old-school-humans-stories-get-1-billion-views-online?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun Chinese demand for overseas schooling, holidays and medical treatment has contributed to a persistent deficit in the country’s services trade, but signs of a tentative counter-current are emerging as a growing stream of foreign patients heads to China. The change – modest in scale but symbolically significant – comes as China, long the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, seeks to build strength in exporting high-value services. While patients in the United States or Europe may wait months to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343956/could-medical-care-help-cure-chinas-services-trade-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343956/could-medical-care-help-cure-chinas-services-trade-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun AstraZeneca’s former China head has been formally charged with medical insurance fraud, illegal trading and unlawful collection of personal information, more than a year after he first came under investigation – casting a shadow over the Swedish-British drug maker’s expansion in its second-largest market. The pharmaceutical giant confirmed to the Financial Times and Reuters that Leon Wang was one of two individuals indicted, as referenced in its latest earnings report published on Tuesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343522/china-charges-former-astrazeneca-executive-what-it-means-global-pharmaceutical-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343522/china-charges-former-astrazeneca-executive-what-it-means-global-pharmaceutical-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s top medical watchdog has ordered a nationwide review of the country’s psychiatric institutes following media reports that multiple hospitals in central China had locked up patients – including people who were not suffering from mental illness – as part of an insurance scam. The National Healthcare Security Administration said on Wednesday that its provincial bureaus should hold talks with directors of all psychiatric institutes in their area by Sunday. They were also told to ensure that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342493/china-probes-mental-hospitals-over-reports-patients-are-being-locked-insurance-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342493/china-probes-mental-hospitals-over-reports-patients-are-being-locked-insurance-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:22:14 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A centenarian Chinese couple have gone viral for being born on the exact same day, month and year and revealing their simple secret to longevity. Numerous netizens have been captivated by the 102-year-old couple’s remedy for a long life, which is minding your own business. The couple went viral after a family portrait surfaced showing Yuan Guanjin and his wife Yin Hezhen wearing white shirts and red jumpers, sitting with their children and grandchildren. The heartwarming photograph, taken on... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340677/china-couple-102-born-same-day-gain-online-attention-credit-longevity-respecting-privacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340677/china-couple-102-born-same-day-gain-online-attention-credit-longevity-respecting-privacy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A young Chinese woman who was determined to look her best as a bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding lost 15kg in just two months through extreme dieting. The crash diet eventually led her to develop prediabetes, sparking shock online. The 26-year-old known by the pseudonym Xiaoyu is an office worker based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, southeastern China. She is 160cm tall and once weighed around 65kg. After being invited by her best friend to be a bridesmaid, she became determined to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340526/china-woman-aims-look-her-best-bridesmaid-resorts-extreme-diet-suffers-prediabetes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340526/china-woman-aims-look-her-best-bridesmaid-resorts-extreme-diet-suffers-prediabetes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 101-year-old Chinese grandmother has dazzled and inspired many by embracing a “reverse lifestyle”, staying up late to watch TV and snacking freely, yet still leading a healthy life, complete with all her natural teeth. Jiang Yueqin hails from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province in southeastern China, and is a proud mother of seven. In her youth, she turned down job opportunities at a state-owned enterprise to become a full-time housewife, dedicating herself to raising her children. Recently, she has... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340361/china-grandma-101-stays-late-watch-tv-enjoys-snacks-shares-longevity-secret?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340361/china-grandma-101-stays-late-watch-tv-enjoys-snacks-shares-longevity-secret?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Neurologist Sun Bomin’s mother led him to believe that Alzheimer’s disease might not be incurable after all. On January 21, Sun released a short video on China’s Yitiao.tv platform and an article detailing what he said was the world’s first effective treatment of Alzheimer’s disease using the high-intensity FUS procedure. His mother, who appeared in the video but was not named, is aged in her nineties and had been suffering from the progressive brain disorder for around eight years. According to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340862/mothers-mind-appears-restored-might-ultrasound-be-cure-alzheimers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340862/mothers-mind-appears-restored-might-ultrasound-be-cure-alzheimers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese office workers are literally switching to working on the run as the building of bonds with customers and colleagues becomes increasingly trendy. On mainland social media, increasing numbers of people say running has become their company’s work culture or helped them bond with clients. A woman based in Beijing said she first learned about the concept of “business running” two years ago when her client invited her on a 7am run. The woman, surnamed Peng, said the client was difficult, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339742/china-office-workers-run-bond-peers-clients-pressured-meet-speed-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339742/china-office-workers-run-bond-peers-clients-pressured-meet-speed-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:18 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A woman from eastern China ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) hours after swallowing a raw fish gallbladder, believing it would cure her headache. The 50-year-old woman, surnamed Liu, from Jiangsu province, adhered to the folk remedy that claimed raw fish gallbladders could clear heat, detoxify the body, and alleviate a persistent migraine that had been troubling her. On the morning of December 14, Liu bought a 2.5kg grass carp at the market, extracted the gallbladder at home, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339551/chinese-woman-swallows-raw-fish-gallbladder-hoping-relieve-headache-ends-icu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339551/chinese-woman-swallows-raw-fish-gallbladder-hoping-relieve-headache-ends-icu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese phone application called “dead or alive” that helps users check in daily has become a top-ranked app, reflecting the trend of solo living among the country’s young people. The Sileme app, or “Dead or alive” in English, is a wordplay from China’s food delivery giant Ele.me (are you hungry), which was recently rebranded by its owner Alibaba Group Holding to Taobao Shangou. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post. The simply designed and functioning app costs eight yuan... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339701/china-dead-or-alive-app-allows-solo-users-check-daily-alerts-contacts-if-they-miss-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339701/china-dead-or-alive-app-allows-solo-users-check-daily-alerts-contacts-if-they-miss-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 23-year-old woman in China has captivated social media after she revealed that intense exercise six times a week led to her menstruation stopping. The woman, who lives in Zhejiang province, eastern China, said hospital check-ups discovered that her female hormone levels were about that of a 50-year-old, according to a report by the City Express. “Doctors also said I had obvious symptoms of kidney deficiency and I must suspend workouts. They prescribed piles of traditional Chinese medicine... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3338998/china-woman-23-who-exercises-6-times-week-no-longer-menstruates-due-rapid-weight-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3338998/china-woman-23-who-exercises-6-times-week-no-longer-menstruates-due-rapid-weight-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng A robot developed by a Chinese company has successfully performed a biliary surgery on a 30kg pig, using an AI model to perform the procedure autonomously. The experiment, which took place on December 24, was conducted by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot, using its Toumai robot powered by the proprietary Neuron multimodal surgical model, the company said in a post on Wednesday. The core surgical procedures, including bile duct clamping and cutting, were performed autonomously by the Medbot, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3339042/ai-surgery-chinese-robot-conducts-complex-operation-pig-without-human-intervention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3339042/ai-surgery-chinese-robot-conducts-complex-operation-pig-without-human-intervention?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:00:12 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has allowed the use of naked flames on board to accommodate a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The use of fire on the vessel is to be allowed so that cupping therapy can take place. The news has received much attention on mainland social media after it was reported by state broadcaster CCTV on December 24. The Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier and the most advanced, officially entered into service in November at a grand... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337781/china-aircraft-carrier-allows-use-naked-flames-tcm-therapy-which-popular-among-troops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337781/china-aircraft-carrier-allows-use-naked-flames-tcm-therapy-which-popular-among-troops?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese woman who dreamed of becoming a dancer spent four months losing 20 kilograms and is now being mistaken for the actress Joey Wong, gaining over 310,000 followers online. Liu Wendi, 32, from Ezhou in Hubei province, central China, recently gained online attention after sharing a video documenting her weight loss journey. She documented her transformation from 72.5kg to 52.5kg, losing nearly 20kg in just four months, prompting many netizens to remark on her striking resemblance to Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336617/china-woman-resembles-actress-joey-wong-after-losing-20kg-plans-dance-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336617/china-woman-resembles-actress-joey-wong-after-losing-20kg-plans-dance-career?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese mukbanger was banned after her live-streams featuring bizarre food choices, such as vinegar-soaked chewing gum, went viral and were reported by netizens for “having a bad influence on children.” The food influencer, known by the handle @chenchenchen (vinegar version), garnered a staggering 700,000 followers and 10 million likes across three platforms before her ban, according to the Chinese media outlet The Paper. She created numerous unusual menus, including fish oil pills soaked in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337211/chinese-food-vlogger-banned-after-vinegar-soaked-chewing-gum-videos-go-viral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337211/chinese-food-vlogger-banned-after-vinegar-soaked-chewing-gum-videos-go-viral?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:00:15 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing’s fresh imperative to “invest in people” – first raised in a proposal for the 15th five-year plan and reaffirmed at an agenda-setting policy meeting last week – reflects a rethink in economic strategy designed to stimulate domestic demand and improve social welfare, analysts said. China’s leaders vowed to “fully tap” the domestic economy’s potential at the annual central economic work conference held last week, which laid out their economic policy priorities for 2026. A readout from the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336651/chinas-new-invest-people-slogan-heralds-rethink-economic-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336651/chinas-new-invest-people-slogan-heralds-rethink-economic-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:00:13 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Mainland China’s highly competitive retail landscape has taken its toll on one of Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty chains, which has decided to exit the market. Analysts said retailers across the board have found the going tough on the mainland, with a slowdown in consumer spending compounding matters. Health and beauty chain Mannings said it would cease all online and offline retail operations on the mainland as it adjusts its strategy in the highly competitive market. “It doesn’t matter... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3336698/health-and-beauty-chain-mannings-withdraw-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3336698/health-and-beauty-chain-mannings-withdraw-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 02:29:39 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi When I woke up with a sore throat and fever in Beijing earlier this month, the last thing I wanted to do was go to a hospital. Even though the nearest public facility is just a 15-minute walk from my flat, I didn’t have the energy to leave my bed, let alone endure the long queues, crowds and cumbersome procedures that come with a hospital visit. In fact, I suspected I had contracted the virus that was causing my symptoms from a trip to that very hospital four days earlier, as it was the only... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336227/reporters-notebook-home-test-kit-takes-headache-out-beijing-healthcare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336227/reporters-notebook-home-test-kit-takes-headache-out-beijing-healthcare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese woman who began vomiting blood shortly after taking a so-called weight loss shot has stunned social media. Over a month ago, the 28-year-old surnamed Chen from Suzhou, Jiangsu province in southeastern China, saw an advertisement for a “weight-loss injection” in a friend’s social media post. Her friend claimed that each shot could lead to at least 3.5 kilograms of weight loss. Tempted by the promise, Chen paid 900 yuan (US$130) for a full treatment package that included three... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3335020/china-woman-pays-us130-weight-loss-therapy-promised-35kg-loss-jab-vomits-blood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3335020/china-woman-pays-us130-weight-loss-therapy-promised-35kg-loss-jab-vomits-blood?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Renowned Chinese poet Yu Xiuhua has made headlines by saying that the menopause was a happy thing and writing a poem in its praise. Yu, 49, from a village in central China’s Hubei province, achieved overnight fame in 2014 for her talented writing. Her poetry brimmed with spiritual vitality despite the physical limitations she suffers from as a result of being born with cerebral palsy. The upbeat nature of her writing also exists despite the fact that she dropped out of secondary school, married... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3334387/china-poet-gains-attention-happy-response-menopause-even-writes-poem-topic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3334387/china-poet-gains-attention-happy-response-menopause-even-writes-poem-topic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Amid concern about China’s ageing and shrinking population, a positive factor can be overlooked. Mainlanders are living longer. Average life expectancy hit a record 79 years in 2024, after achieving the goal of growing by 0.2 years annually during the 14th five-year plan. National Health Commission head Lei Haichao says that by the end of the 15th five-year plan in 2030, the country’s newborns should be expected to live an average of 80 years, in line with President Xi Jinping’s “Healthy China”... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335287/silver-lining-chinas-ageing-population-shouldnt-be-overlooked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335287/silver-lining-chinas-ageing-population-shouldnt-be-overlooked?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A popular Chinese snack brand has ignited online controversy after netizens revealed that its employees have to change their surnames to “rat” and refer to customers as “master”. Recently, a mainland netizen posted online claiming that “after joining Three Squirrels, you lose your real name”. Photographs from an internal meeting showed nameplates such as Shu Laodie, meaning “Rat Dad”, and Shu Laomu, meaning “Rat Mum”. Three Squirrels, which was founded in 2012 in Anhui province, central China,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3334196/china-snack-brand-criticised-making-staff-change-surname-rat-call-customers-master?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3334196/china-snack-brand-criticised-making-staff-change-surname-rat-call-customers-master?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:00:15 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Chinese food tasters are going viral by sharing videos that reveal a job much tougher than its dreamy image, even if the task comes with a “weight-gain subsidy”. The unusual workers are hired by snack brands, food factories and supermarkets. They earn an average of about 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) a month for their taste-testing duties. Their formal title is “sensory evaluation engineer”. Their job is to detect the tiniest shifts in flavour, from milk-fat concentration to how long the aftertaste... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3334187/weight-gain-subsidy-china-food-tasters-share-work-videos-reveal-different-side-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3334187/weight-gain-subsidy-china-food-tasters-share-work-videos-reveal-different-side-job?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan China’s top woman shot put athlete has ignited an online debate about female stereotypes after saying that she plans to lose weight, become beautiful and get married after she retires. Gong Lijiao, 36, shared her life goals with the state media CCTV on November 23, shortly after announcing her retirement from sport. She won the National Games championship, the country’s highest level comprehensive sports event, in mid-November, topping off a career which began 25 years ago. Gong, from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3334077/china-olympic-champion-plans-shed-25kg-upon-retirement-pursuing-marriage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3334077/china-olympic-champion-plans-shed-25kg-upon-retirement-pursuing-marriage?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:00:10 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China has loosened its civil service medical rules so that sufferers from three chronic diseases will no longer be barred, a move hailed by campaigners and legal groups as a landmark in the fight against unfair employment practices. The updated rules were issued on November 14 by the General Office of the Central Committee’s Organisation Department, which oversees the recruitment process, and the National Health Commission. Amid a tough job market in China, many qualified candidates for civil... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3333814/china-overhauls-unfair-rules-excluded-chronic-disease-carriers-civil-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3333814/china-overhauls-unfair-rules-excluded-chronic-disease-carriers-civil-service?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:00:17 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang James Liang, co-founder of Chinese online travel giant Trip.com Group, has launched a HK$500 million (US$64.23 million) foundation in Hong Kong to tackle China’s deepening fertility crisis. Citing Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a global hub that facilitates the exchange of international expertise, he said the city was the ideal springboard for tackling China’s mounting demographic pressures. “The challenge of low fertility rates faced by Hong Kong society is highly representative, and the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3333570/baby-boom-or-bust-tripcom-co-founder-launches-hk500-million-fund-boost-birth-rates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3333570/baby-boom-or-bust-tripcom-co-founder-launches-hk500-million-fund-boost-birth-rates?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:47:29 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese man who weighed more than 130kg and was eager to make a good impression on his girlfriend’s parents has died after undergoing gastric bypass surgery. The 36-year-old, known by the pseudonym Li Jiang, from Xinxiang in Henan province, northern China, had long struggled with his weight and had difficulty controlling his eating habits. He was 174cm tall and weighed more than 134kg. According to his older brother, Li had recently started dating and the relationship was going well as the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3331463/130kg-chinese-man-dies-after-gastric-bypass-surgery-impress-girlfriends-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3331463/130kg-chinese-man-dies-after-gastric-bypass-surgery-impress-girlfriends-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A young boy in eastern China, whose digestive system was nearly entirely removed due to a medical blunder, is now surviving on intravenous (IV) nutrition, attracting significant attention and sympathy from mainland social media. The boy was admitted to Chengwu County People’s Hospital in Shandong province on October 26, 2023, at the age of 10 after experiencing severe pain when a classmate accidentally bumped into his stomach on the school playground. During a routine examination, doctors... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3332145/chinese-boy-12-loses-digestive-system-due-surgical-error-meant-remove-tumour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3332145/chinese-boy-12-loses-digestive-system-due-surgical-error-meant-remove-tumour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:08 +0000 Eric Ng,Julie Zhang Eric Ng,Julie Zhang The ferocity of China’s biopharmaceutical investment boom this year – fuelled by record-breaking licensing of commercial rights to global giants after a three-year slump – may have surprised casual observers. But according to Helen Chen, one of the most respected analysts and advisers in China’s life sciences space, the supercharged sector’s real renaissance came two years earlier. In December 2022, US drug maker MSD agreed to license global (excluding China) rights to develop and commercialise... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3331950/six-best-how-chinas-new-biotech-vanguard-banking-billions-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3331950/six-best-how-chinas-new-biotech-vanguard-banking-billions-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 03:00:14 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Chinese fintech firm Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, has picked healthcare as a new artificial intelligence-driven business pillar, as it seeks growth in China’s rapidly ageing society, according to CEO Cyril Han Xinyi. The group, which owns and operates the payment service Alipay, has been struggling to find new areas for growth after Beijing imposed regulatory requirements on its consumer-credit businesses. Ant has also restructured to run independently from Alibaba, with... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331946/ant-group-picks-ai-assisted-healthcare-new-growth-area-amid-chinas-rapid-ageing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331946/ant-group-picks-ai-assisted-healthcare-new-growth-area-amid-chinas-rapid-ageing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:20 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese woman shocked the internet after developing purplish-red “snake skin” patterns on her body from using a “pure traditional Chinese medicine” ointment for over a decade. The 40-year-old woman, known by the pseudonym Tingting, was admitted to Zhongda Hospital Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in October. She disclosed having self-medicated without ever seeking professional help. Not only is she significantly overweight, but she also has extensive purple-red, snake-like... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3331583/china-woman-develops-snake-patterns-body-using-pure-tcm-ointment-10-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3331583/china-woman-develops-snake-patterns-body-using-pure-tcm-ointment-10-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Some bathhouses in China are invigorating the traditional hot spring experience with “hotpot baths”, where visitors immerse themselves in a chilli pepper “soup” inspired by the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In October, a resort in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, elevated the experience further by introducing a two-tone soup pool, offering a more visually stunning attraction. In restaurants, the yuan yang hotpot, or Mandarin duck hotpot,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3330738/what-china-tcm-inspired-hotpot-bath-where-visitors-soak-chilli-pepper-and-milk-soup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3330738/what-china-tcm-inspired-hotpot-bath-where-visitors-soak-chilli-pepper-and-milk-soup?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:28:22 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese gym has recently launched a controversial weight-loss challenge, offering a luxury car as a reward to anyone who successfully loses 50kg in three months. While the promotion has garnered significant online interest, it has also raised serious concerns among health experts regarding the dangers of extreme weight loss in a short time frame. On October 23, a fitness training centre in Binzhou, Shandong province, northern China, announced the bold weight-loss challenge online, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3330708/chinese-gym-offers-porsche-losing-50kg-3-months-charges-us1400-entry-fee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3330708/chinese-gym-offers-porsche-losing-50kg-3-months-charges-us1400-entry-fee?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 02:35:41 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Willa Wu Connor Mycroft,Willa Wu Hong Kong health authorities have identified 21 people showing mild symptoms of chikungunya fever who required blood tests, as the city’s leader pledged that his administration would go all out to prevent the viral disease from taking root locally. The Centre for Health Protection on Tuesday also said the source of infection in a 55-year-old woman confirmed with the mosquito-borne illness a day earlier was still under investigation, but a genome analysis was being conducted. The centre said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3330674/hong-kong-leader-vows-nip-chikungunya-bud-21-show-symptoms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3330674/hong-kong-leader-vows-nip-chikungunya-bud-21-show-symptoms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:51:36 +0000 Edith Lin,Emily Hung,Ambrose Li Edith Lin,Emily Hung,Ambrose Li Blood tests have been carried out on seven Hongkongers with symptoms of chikungunya fever after health workers screened around 1,300 people in a high-risk area linked to the first local infection of the mosquito-borne disease, authorities have said. The Centre for Health Protection, which urged residents with symptoms to seek medical advice, also reported three new infections – two imported and one from an unconfirmed source – on Monday evening, a day after Hong Kong recorded its first locally... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3330445/no-chikungunya-cases-found-among-450-hongkongers-screened-after-first-local-infection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3330445/no-chikungunya-cases-found-among-450-hongkongers-screened-after-first-local-infection?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 06:43:25 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), a fast-growing next-generation cancer treatment, have become an investment hotspot due to its potential to become mainstream globally, according to biopharmaceutical industry insiders. To achieve sustainable growth and maximise revenue potential, companies should pursue differentiated product development and a global clinical strategy, according to Duality Biotherapeutics, which organised a biotech forum in Shanghai last week. The Shanghai-based company – which... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330377/china-biotech-forum-bills-antibody-cancer-drugs-next-generation-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330377/china-biotech-forum-bills-antibody-cancer-drugs-next-generation-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:30:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Young Chinese adults have been sharing extreme tips online on how to be frugal. One of the suggestions bizarrely recommends bread worms as a cheap, high-quality protein source, claiming they have a “milky almond” flavour. The ideas were shared in an online group called the “Thrifty Men’s Association”, which boasts more than 240,000 members. Members proudly refer to themselves as “Thrifty Stars”, viewing their lifestyle as an act of resistance against consumerism. One of the most viral posts... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3330031/china-youth-share-frugality-hacks-online-eating-bread-worms-cheap-protein-rich-food-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3330031/china-youth-share-frugality-hacks-online-eating-bread-worms-cheap-protein-rich-food-source?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal,Peggy Sito Cheryl Arcibal,Peggy Sito On a Sunday morning earlier this month, five friends from Bangkok stepped through the marble lobby of the Studio City Hotel in Macau – the kind of place better known for gaming tables and stage shows than medical check-ups. Instead, they were heading to iRad Hospital, tucked inside the resort complex, for a round of beauty treatments and wellness sessions. The women – Kwaisun Panchasarp, Nantanat Tejavibulya, Buyasakorn De Jesus and two friends – were in town with their families to catch the NBA... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330210/playing-health-card-macau-gives-greater-bay-area-glimpse-its-health-hub-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3330210/playing-health-card-macau-gives-greater-bay-area-glimpse-its-health-hub-future?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 02:00:13 +0000