https://www.scmp.com/rss/327672/feed The latest news, trends and events people are talking about on China's internet, social media and elsewhere. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fran Lu Fran Lu China’s fuerdai, or “second-generation rich”, are shaking off their notorious image and have become the favourite boss of some young people. The term fuerdai was invented in the 2000s and refers to the children of people who accumulated wealth following China’s reform and opening up in 1978. It was considered a pejorative term, often associated with the spoiled character and overindulgent lifestyles of rich children. However, in contemporary China, fuerdai are dispensing with their stereotypes... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350950/wealthy-young-chinese-gain-popularity-founding-companies-relaxed-work-environments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350950/wealthy-young-chinese-gain-popularity-founding-companies-relaxed-work-environments?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 74-year-old British grandmother who set off on a solo trip to China received an unexpected outpouring of support from Chinese netizens who took turns to guide her on her journey. The heartwarming story began with Xiao Yue, a senior university student from Hezhou in Guangxi Province, southern China, who first met the British grandmother while volunteering in Phuket. The woman, Gill, 74, has travelled to 72 countries on her own and has also volunteered in many countries before. Recently, Xiao... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350839/innate-kindness-chinese-people-moves-british-granny-74-travelling-solo-across-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350839/innate-kindness-chinese-people-moves-british-granny-74-travelling-solo-across-country?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Chinese teenagers dressed in camouflage uniforms express gratitude in front of cameras at a youth correction centre, but the off-camera reality tells a completely different story. According to a Chinese state media report they are beaten or sexually assaulted, leading to calls for better supervision and monitoring of such institutions. Such schools accept teenagers who are rebellious, weary of studying, addicted to playing electronic games, or suffer from depression. The institutions generally... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350826/china-live-streams-expose-minors-undergoing-harsh-training-designed-rebellious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350826/china-live-streams-expose-minors-undergoing-harsh-training-designed-rebellious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The Hollywood film The Devil Wears Prada 2 is facing accusations of racism in China after it released a clip that shows a nerdy Asian character with a name that allegedly sounds similar to the derogatory “Ching Chong”. In the clip posted by a Chinese influencer, an Asian assistant character introduces herself as “Jin Chao”, which many online observers believed to sound like “Ching Chong”, a derogatory racist slur used to mock the Chinese language and people. The character’s name, Jin Chao, was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350984/devil-wears-prada-2-criticised-offending-china-introducing-chin-chou-nerdy-character?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350984/devil-wears-prada-2-criticised-offending-china-introducing-chin-chou-nerdy-character?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:10:46 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese woman who tried to copy a recently viral lamp post climbing challenge got herself stuck and had to call the police to rescue her. The woman, surnamed Song, from eastern China’s Jiangsu province, was out for an after-dinner walk when she decided to take on the challenge. The self-rescue challenge requires people to cross their legs around a lamp post, remain in a sitting position then try to free themselves. As easy as this may sound, many people have been shocked to discover that they... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350294/climbing-lamp-posts-cross-legged-challenge-goes-viral-china-players-often-needing-rescue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350294/climbing-lamp-posts-cross-legged-challenge-goes-viral-china-players-often-needing-rescue?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu While people in modern times send new year greetings easily on social network apps, in ancient times it was a much more complicated ritual. In China, the origin of delivering new year greeting cards can be traced back to the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). During that time, people began making name cards, writing their name, age, hometown, official position, personal statement on long bamboo or wood sticks. These sticks were called ming ci. The character ming means “name”, and ci is literally... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3350338/chinese-new-year-bamboo-greeting-cards-date-back-over-2000-years-han-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3350338/chinese-new-year-bamboo-greeting-cards-date-back-over-2000-years-han-dynasty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese employee has caused widespread jealousy among netizens after she won seven days of paid “rain leave”, meaning she can stay home when it rains. The woman, whose personal details have not been divulged, from Changsha in Hunan province, southern China, works at a spicy snack company and went viral after winning the unusual prize in a company raffle. The company, Mala Wangzi, which literally means “Spicy Prince”, was founded in 2009 by Zhang Yudong and is headquartered in Changsha. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350308/china-worker-gains-envy-after-winning-7-day-rain-leave-boss-also-offers-cash-subsidies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350308/china-worker-gains-envy-after-winning-7-day-rain-leave-boss-also-offers-cash-subsidies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Chinese influencer’s live-stream recounting how she was lured to Cambodia and forced into a cyber scam operation was abruptly cut off, shortly before her social media account was banned. The 20-year-old, known online as Umi, is a live-stream host from southeastern China’s Fujian province with 24,000 followers on mainland platforms. Earlier this year, she gained national attention after being found in distress in Cambodia and returning safely to China in January. Three months ago, a netizen... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350824/china-influencer-tricked-cambodia-cyber-scam-recounts-ordeal-live-stream-was-cut-short?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350824/china-influencer-tricked-cambodia-cyber-scam-recounts-ordeal-live-stream-was-cut-short?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A nine-year-old boy in rural China who relies on his 73-year-old grandfather and brings him meat from his school canteen because he fears the old man might die without it has touched millions of internet users in the country. The boy, who is nicknamed Zichen, is a primary school pupil who lives in a village in Taikang county, central Henan province. His story has been viewed 46 million times on social media, sparking the local authorities to intervene with help. According to a report by Henan... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350266/plight-parentless-china-boy-cared-grandpa-attracts-46-million-views-prompts-government-aid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350266/plight-parentless-china-boy-cared-grandpa-attracts-46-million-views-prompts-government-aid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A secondary teacher has been dubbed “China’s Superdad” for adopting nearly 300 parentless children over the past three decades. Bai Jian, 52, is a physical education (PE) teacher at Anshan No 2 Middle School, Liaoning province, northeastern China. He rents a big property to accommodate 20 to 30 children. Since 1995, at least 276 children have lived on the estate which is called Dream Home by Bai, the news outlet The Paper reported. Among the children have been orphans or others simply discarded... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350347/china-superdad-uses-salary-loans-build-marathon-dream-home-300-deprived-kids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350347/china-superdad-uses-salary-loans-build-marathon-dream-home-300-deprived-kids?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Chinese influencer helped a girl who claimed to be raising her sisters alone in a remote village, only to later discover that some of her hardships were exaggerated. Super Btai, whose real name is Chen Jiajun, is famed for exposing scams and supporting vulnerable communities. He has more than 25 million followers on mainland social media. Earlier this year, Chen met 18-year-old Aji in the mountainous province of Guizhou, in southwestern China. Aji told him she was raising two younger sisters... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350194/china-influencer-builds-house-girl-who-claims-be-raising-sisters-alone-amid-family-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350194/china-influencer-builds-house-girl-who-claims-be-raising-sisters-alone-amid-family-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A young Chinese woman who returned to her hometown to raise more than 60,000 venomous snakes and earns more than a million yuan (US$147,000) a year has caused astonishment online. The woman, surnamed Qin, was born in 1995 and hails from Guilin in Guangxi province, southern China. Two years after graduating from university, she returned to her village to help her father raise snakes. She now manages more than 60,000 reptiles, including over 50,000 five-step snakes, a highly venomous species of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350186/china-woman-returns-hometown-raise-60000-venomous-snakes-earns-us146000-annually?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350186/china-woman-returns-hometown-raise-60000-venomous-snakes-earns-us146000-annually?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A traditional Tibetan Bathing Festival sees men and women of all ages bathing together in natural waters in a joyous tradition during which young people can meet potential romantic partners. Every year in early July of the Tibetan calendar, the festival, or Bathing Week, takes place across Tibet, from urban areas to rural villages. The traditional event, held along the banks of the Lhasa River, has a history stretching back between 700 and 800 years. It lasts for about a week, typically from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350176/tibetan-bathing-festival-sees-people-bathe-natural-waters-socialise-seek-romantic-partners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350176/tibetan-bathing-festival-sees-people-bathe-natural-waters-socialise-seek-romantic-partners?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Surgeons in southern China have removed an 8cm-long worm from a woman’s brain after she suffered from multiple mystery health problems. The 61-year-old had brain surgery at a hospital in Guangdong province in early April, the Shenzhen Evening News reported. Doctors said the existence of the parasite may have been due to an experience the woman had when she was young. She recalled that when she was a teenager, her mother caught a frog in the wild and inserted the croaker’s leg into her tooth... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350152/quirky-china-doctor-removes-worm-womans-brain-under-fire-gamer-dyes-her-skin-black?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350152/quirky-china-doctor-removes-worm-womans-brain-under-fire-gamer-dyes-her-skin-black?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A dedicated five-year-old Chinese girl is making a big impression online with her skilful and powerful martial arts performances. Huang Zijun from Maoming, in southern China’s Guangdong province, has marvelled countless netizens with videos of her performing Hung Kuen, a representative martial art in southern China. It is famous for its low and stable positions, powerful strikes with the arms and flexible hand skills. Many of its classic postures are named after animals, such as the tiger, snake... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350163/china-martial-arts-prodigy-5-often-practises-point-tears-ready-may-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350163/china-martial-arts-prodigy-5-often-practises-point-tears-ready-may-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An 81-year-old Chinese woman dubbed “the strongest Chinese mother” was born without limbs and managed to raise three children. The octogenarian who has moved many people online sewed with her mouth and used her elbows to hold chopsticks while looking after her family. Wang Yushi, 81, from Baiyin in Gansu province, northern China, was born with a congenital disability and has had no limbs since birth. She did not even have an official name until her late 20s. “My mother was born without hands or... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350022/china-limbless-mum-sews-mouth-uses-limb-stumps-daily-tasks-raises-3-kids-alone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350022/china-limbless-mum-sews-mouth-uses-limb-stumps-daily-tasks-raises-3-kids-alone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese noodle restaurant has come under fire for displaying a slogan that appears to condone domestic violence. The restaurant in Xining, northwestern China’s Qinghai province put up a banner which read “beaten wife, kneaded dough”. The slogan refers to an old saying from the Guanzhong plain region, which goes “the more a dough is kneaded the better the noodles taste, the more a wife is beaten the more docile she gets.” The shop was slammed across mainland social media for trying to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3350015/china-eatery-sparks-outrage-beating-wife-sales-slogan-hinting-domestic-violence-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3350015/china-eatery-sparks-outrage-beating-wife-sales-slogan-hinting-domestic-violence-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Mercedes-Benz was buried as a funerary offering in a village in northeastern China, igniting public outrage over legal violations and environmental safety. A viral video shows some villagers in Liaoyang, Liaoning province, attending the funeral of a septuagenarian on April 9. Sources told the mainland media that the dead person was an avid collector of luxury cars, prompting his children to bury a real vehicle to ensure his soul’s peaceful passage. The car, a black Mercedes-Benz S450L valued... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3350031/china-family-buries-luxury-car-offering-prompting-government-reprimand-public-apology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3350031/china-family-buries-luxury-car-offering-prompting-government-reprimand-public-apology?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang At Beijing’s Babaoshan Funeral Home, China’s only all-female cremation team works in searing heat, defying gender stereotypes while gaining a deeper understanding of life and death. The five women, whose average age is 28, carry out their duties with precision and composure, guiding the dead through their final farewell. Known as the Fire Roses, the team formed in 2022, with Yun Xiaolin as its first member. Yun had originally enrolled in a cabin crew programme at her parents’ urging, but dropped... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3349386/fire-roses-china-only-all-female-cremation-team-challenges-stereotypes-reshapes-mortality-views?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3349386/fire-roses-china-only-all-female-cremation-team-challenges-stereotypes-reshapes-mortality-views?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan China is a land where the unexpected becomes part of daily life, and these quirky excursions often add a touch of excitement to mundane routines. In southern China, during this year’s Tomb Sweeping Festival in early April, a woman surnamed Wu discovered a surprising piece of information while sweeping the tomb of her great-grandfather – a man from another village informed her that her family had been visiting the wrong grave for the past two years. Wu, a resident of Guangdong province, recounted... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350418/china-woman-sweeps-wrong-tomb-boy-does-homework-police-station-courier-feeds-village?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350418/china-woman-sweeps-wrong-tomb-boy-does-homework-police-station-courier-feeds-village?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:01:46 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Beneath the rigid honour codes of the criminal underworld, ancient Chinese thieves operated in a high-stakes gamble against the state. For those who broke the law and were captured, the cost of failure was inscribed on their skin or paid in blood through facial tattooing, brutal amputations, or the executioner’s blade. From mastering qinggong (light body technique) to extreme contortion, their skills offered insight into a shadowy realm characterised by cunning, strict discipline, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350368/mastering-shadows-explore-lives-extraordinary-skills-ancient-chinese-thieves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350368/mastering-shadows-explore-lives-extraordinary-skills-ancient-chinese-thieves?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:24 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A single mother in China who has worked for 16 years carrying heavy bags of cement on construction sites to care for and fund her daughter’s education has moved countless people online. Wei Guiyun, 40, from Qidong County in Hengyang, Hunan province, central China, has gone viral online after sharing her story. In 2010, at the age of 24, she began the labouring job while raising two young children. At that time, her daughter was two and her son just a few months old. “With two children, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350137/china-single-mum-works-building-sites-lifting-bags-cement-16-years-support-child?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350137/china-single-mum-works-building-sites-lifting-bags-cement-16-years-support-child?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China’s first abandoned dog, Deng Deng, who was famously sold at judicial auction, recently died after spending five joyous years in his new home. He is fondly remembered on social media. The owner of the 13-year-old Shiba Inu, identified as Shu, announced Deng Deng’s death on April 7 via a heartfelt social media post. “The dog auctioned for 160,000 yuan (US$23,000) has peacefully returned to the doggy planet, surrounded by his loving family. I hope everyone remembers him with thoughts of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350280/auction-block-loving-home-china-netizens-remember-celebrity-dogs-heartwarming-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350280/auction-block-loving-home-china-netizens-remember-celebrity-dogs-heartwarming-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:58:17 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese jobseekers are now turning to dating apps to search for work, while some recruitment platforms have become places to connect for dates instead. The youth unemployment rate in China among the 16 to 24 age group, excluding students, has remained above 16 per cent since last July. Many young people express their frustration over the increasing challenges of finding a job. Some report applying for hundreds of positions daily but receiving only a few responses. In this landscape, some... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350222/why-china-jobseekers-use-dating-apps-work-recruitment-sites-matchmaking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350222/why-china-jobseekers-use-dating-apps-work-recruitment-sites-matchmaking?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The premium ice cream brand Magnum has taken down its Chinese advertisements that visually link its product to women’s feet wearing ballet pumps after they triggered an online backlash. The brand from the Netherlands posted a controversial advertisement for its new pistachio ice cream in January 2026. The advert suggests the ice cream looks like a woman’s feet wearing a pair of half chocolate, half light green-coloured ballet pumps. The slogan that goes with the visual says that the product is... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3350043/premium-ice-cream-brand-trouble-over-soft-porn-vibes-after-comparing-desserts-ballet-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3350043/premium-ice-cream-brand-trouble-over-soft-porn-vibes-after-comparing-desserts-ballet-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:14 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An online industry has emerged which allows people to create “wealthy” personal profiles on social media in China by buying “luxury lifestyle” photographs for as little as one yuan (15 US cents). The pictures feature travel scenery, gourmet dining, golfing, skiing and other activities on e-commerce platforms. The photographs are typically priced between one and eight yuan and are marketed as ready-made content for social media posts or for building a curated online persona. They are usually... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350006/chinese-create-wealthy-online-personas-buying-exotic-lifestyle-photos-warned-legal-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350006/chinese-create-wealthy-online-personas-buying-exotic-lifestyle-photos-warned-legal-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Several restaurants in eastern China are using artificial intelligence (AI) robots to cook as many as 100 dishes to cut costs, sparking a heated discussion on social media. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, at least three such eateries have been operating for months, Zhejiang TV reported. One of them, 24 Jieqi Robot Restaurant in the Xihu district uses eight robots which handle ordering, serving, cleaning and cooking. They have shared 60 per cent of the total workload of kitchen workers, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350001/china-ai-robot-restaurant-analyses-diners-faces-tongues-recommend-health-focused-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3350001/china-ai-robot-restaurant-analyses-diners-faces-tongues-recommend-health-focused-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Moroccan man studying in eastern China has been hailed as a hero by local residents and received an award for saving a drowning woman from a lake. On the evening of April 6, Ayoub Fadil, 21, a student at Hangzhou Dianzi University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province and several foreign friends were walking around Jinsha Lake when they noticed a woman floating in the water. A lifebuoy thrown by some residents did not help because she was too far away from the bank, Hangzhou Daily reported. Fadil’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349525/love-and-compassion-china-moroccan-student-saves-drowning-woman-long-ago-pen-pals-reunite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349525/love-and-compassion-china-moroccan-student-saves-drowning-woman-long-ago-pen-pals-reunite?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese nurse working at a hospital in Japan has come under fire from both Chinese and Japanese netizens after allegedly routinely posting the personal and medical information of patients online. The Tokyo-based woman, identified as “Zhaozhaozzz”, has around 21,000 followers on social media where she regularly shares content about her life and work. Her personal details remain unclear. While working at the hospital, she filmed so-called “immersive Tokyo nurse vlog” videos with... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349513/japan-based-china-nurse-criticised-posting-work-clips-raising-privacy-ethics-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349513/japan-based-china-nurse-criticised-posting-work-clips-raising-privacy-ethics-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 32-year-old Chinese man who went to hospital suffering from stomach pain was shocked to discover that a mercury thermometer he had swallowed 20 years ago was still inside him. The man, surnamed Wang, from Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, southeastern China, had sought treatment at the Longgang branch of The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. A scan revealed a foreign object in his duodenum, which doctors highly suspected to be a mercury thermometer. As the tip of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349537/chinese-man-32-suffers-stomach-pain-discovers-thermometer-swallowed-child-still-inside-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349537/chinese-man-32-suffers-stomach-pain-discovers-thermometer-swallowed-child-still-inside-him?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Mainland social media was engulfed by sorrow following the passing of Zhang Xuefeng, an esteemed education guru with over 30 million followers, in late March. Meanwhile, another influential figure was capturing attention online. ZXMOTO founder Zhang Xue had just achieved a remarkable victory for his motorcycle brand on the world stage. Though these two self-made icons treaded vastly different paths, they simultaneously resonated with the public mood. Their stories reveal a deeper unease in China... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349856/bikes-books-and-ambitions-how-zhang-xue-and-zhang-xuefeng-inspire-generation-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349856/bikes-books-and-ambitions-how-zhang-xue-and-zhang-xuefeng-inspire-generation-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese diner has gone viral after its owner rejected the trappings of popularity, mirroring a so-called lying flat attitude adopted by many youngsters in the country. The chicken pot restaurant in Foshan, Guangdong province, southern China recently attracted unprecedented traffic. It once had over 200 groups of customers waiting for more than three hours. The diner specialises in combining chicken pot with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs, but that is not why it went viral. The main... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349241/china-restaurant-owner-rejects-fame-after-being-overwhelmed-growing-number-customers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349241/china-restaurant-owner-rejects-fame-after-being-overwhelmed-growing-number-customers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A woman in central China who took a five-hour-long office nap during working hours and issued a tearful online complaint that her boss threatened to fire her if she did so again has captivated mainland social media. The unidentified woman said she felt badly treated by her boss, adding that she was unhappy with the size of her salary, according to a report by the Haichao News. She works in a company in Shangqiu, Henan province. Neither her employer’s information nor her job description is clear... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349379/china-woman-unhappy-salary-takes-5-hour-nap-work-show-boss-you-get-what-you-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349379/china-woman-unhappy-salary-takes-5-hour-nap-work-show-boss-you-get-what-you-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Kevin McSpadden Kevin McSpadden The archaeological site of Sanxingdui in southwest China’s Sichuan province has yielded remarkable discoveries, including insights recently revealed by Chinese researchers about how the inhabitants forged an axelike tool from a meteorite. While meteorite artefacts are not entirely unheard of – China boasts 13 known meteorite objects – this discovery underscores that the people of Sanxingdui were part of a distinct regional culture, separate from their contemporaries further north. “The presence... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349780/celestial-craftsmanship-discoveries-china-sanxingdui-uveil-secrets-meteorite-axe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349780/celestial-craftsmanship-discoveries-china-sanxingdui-uveil-secrets-meteorite-axe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese company has sparked controversy after it reportedly used a former employee’s data to create an artificial intelligence (AI) human to continue working following his resignation. A game company in Shandong province in northern China has attracted attention after turning a former employee into an AI-powered “digital worker” which continued performing tasks after their resignation. The employee, whose personal details remain unclear, previously worked as an human resources (HR)... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349365/chinese-firm-slammed-using-ex-employees-data-create-ai-human-continue-working?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349365/chinese-firm-slammed-using-ex-employees-data-create-ai-human-continue-working?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan After a man in China was killed in a road accident last year, his family hired an artificial intelligence (AI) technology team to create a digital version of him to comfort his elderly mother. The AI creation is able to chat with his octogenarian mother online and help her live with the reality of her only child’s death. The incident was exposed by the AI team leader Zhang Zewei, who is based in eastern Jiangsu province, according to the media outlet Litchi News. The family, who live in Shandong... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349344/china-family-creates-ai-clone-comfort-elderly-mum-after-only-son-dies-car-accident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349344/china-family-creates-ai-clone-comfort-elderly-mum-after-only-son-dies-car-accident?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Kevin McSpadden Kevin McSpadden “War is hell,” as the saying goes, and it is often those most intimately acquainted with conflict who are the most eager to leave it behind. This yearning for peace was underscored by a newly uncovered archaeological site from the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) in Shaanxi province, northwest China, revealed in 2022. Researchers announced their discoveries in mid-March. Among the findings was a gravesite featuring the remains of individuals interred with broken weapons, a custom rooted in an... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349703/unearthing-peace-ancient-china-gravesite-reveals-significance-broken-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349703/unearthing-peace-ancient-china-gravesite-reveals-significance-broken-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai “I can’t wait to watch the game – it’s Lion’s Head Meatballs versus Hairy Crab!” Liu Jieling, a 42-year-old company executive from Suzhou, joked about a derby clash pitting a side inspired by her city’s signature crustacean cuisine against one by Yangzhou’s steamed meatballs. The 2026 season of the Jiangsu City Football League – popularly known as the Su Super League – kicks off on Saturday, and the amateur tournament in Jiangsu, a province in eastern China, is already generating huge buzz... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349732/winners-chinas-growing-intercity-football-rivalries-may-surprise-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349732/winners-chinas-growing-intercity-football-rivalries-may-surprise-you?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A coffee shop in eastern China has gone viral for its entry rules banning a range of bizarre misbehaviour, from discarding black stockings to stealing tiny turtles from its pond. The café, Yi Nan Ping, is in Qingzhou Ancient City, a popular tourist site in Weifang, Shandong province, and is known for its signature pineapple Americano and picturesque courtyard. Visitors recently spotted an oversized notice at the café entrance, almost as tall as an adult, opening with a blunt admission: it had... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349338/china-cafe-sets-entry-rules-ban-littering-discarding-black-stockings-stealing-tiny-turtles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349338/china-cafe-sets-entry-rules-ban-littering-discarding-black-stockings-stealing-tiny-turtles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Long before social media and camera lenses, ancient China had its own “paparazzi” who wielded ink, paper and a sharp tongue to unsettle the lives of the powerful. In those days, gossip was more than idle chatter; it formed an informal information network linking teahouses, stage stations, street tabloids and officialdom. During the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220), the imperial court established the Censorate, a body charged with monitoring official conduct. Its censors watched for misconduct that... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349254/how-gossip-spread-ancient-china-advent-printing-when-newspapers-reported-scandals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349254/how-gossip-spread-ancient-china-advent-printing-when-newspapers-reported-scandals?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Foreign visitors have been flocking to spa centres in China to try a unique cultural experience at an affordable price. Many foreigners have been amazed by the bathhouses in the country because they operate on a 24-hour basis. Not only can people take a bath at hot springs, but they can also enjoy everything from fruit, drinks, ice cream and a buffet, to singing Karaoke, playing with game machines, billiards and mahjong. Some places also provide libraries and mini cinemas, the China News... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3349269/foreigners-flock-china-spas-enjoy-unique-cultural-baths-amid-rise-wellness-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3349269/foreigners-flock-china-spas-enjoy-unique-cultural-baths-amid-rise-wellness-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Two Americans travelling in China who mistook a “happy funeral” banquet in rural China for a trendy restaurant were unexpectedly given a warm welcome by the locals. Well-known American YouTuber Ludwig Anders Ahgren, who is widely known as Ludwig, has amassed over 6.8 million followers. Recently, he set off on a motorcycle journey across China with his friend, travelling from Guangdong province in southern China to Inner Mongolia in the north. On the fifth day of their trip, while passing... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349238/us-travellers-mistakenly-think-china-happy-funeral-celebrating-longevity-trendy-eatery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349238/us-travellers-mistakenly-think-china-happy-funeral-celebrating-longevity-trendy-eatery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese man who joined a matchmaking event while his wife had briefly gone to the bathroom, then claimed he was single, has sparked outrage online. On April 1, during “Auntie Wang’s Matchmaking” event in Bengbu, Anhui province, central China, a man who claimed to be single went on stage to find a partner was exposed on the spot. The event, which originally took place in Kaifeng, Henan province, also in central China, has attracted much attention on mainland social media. Those taking part are... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349278/public-outrage-chinese-man-takes-part-matchmaking-event-while-wife-goes-toilet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349278/public-outrage-chinese-man-takes-part-matchmaking-event-while-wife-goes-toilet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Malicious and hateful online attacks on China’s diving queen Quan Hongchan, including one which likened her to a “pig”, will form part of a major investigation into an organised cyberbullying campaign against the Olympic athlete. Other hurtful attacks said the gold medal winner “looks like a man” and even questioned her right to be a champion, saying she only won because “the judges were biased”. Another online bully said Quan looked “countrified” while others called on her to “retire... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349529/china-authorities-probe-national-level-bullying-diving-icon-quan-hongchan-amid-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349529/china-authorities-probe-national-level-bullying-diving-icon-quan-hongchan-amid-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang China never fails to deliver strange, funny and almost unbelievable viral stories. Today, the SCMP offers a glimpse into some recent quirky moments, from a “haunted” flat that keeps getting resold, to a lift that stops at only one floor and a sushi conveyor belt hijacked by a “Mickey” mouse. Ghostly dwelling On April 1, a flat in Chengdu, Sichuan province in southwestern China, where there had been an unnatural death, was listed for auction for the third time, with bidding set to begin on April... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349474/quirky-china-haunted-house-auctioned-3-times-lift-serves-only-1-floor-mouse-run-eatery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349474/quirky-china-haunted-house-auctioned-3-times-lift-serves-only-1-floor-mouse-run-eatery?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:04:00 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A brave 89-year-old grandmother climbed from the 27th to the 21st floor on her building’s outer wall after accidentally locking herself in, shocking many people online. The woman in Beijing was spotted stuck outside a residential building’s 26th floor on an afternoon on April 1. A cleaner and a security guard heard her faint sounds from downstairs, looked up and saw her grabbing tightly to the rails that protect air conditioners on the outer wall. They immediately called the police and shouted... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349272/china-woman-89-climbs-27th-21st-floor-building-escape-locked-bedroom-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349272/china-woman-89-climbs-27th-21st-floor-building-escape-locked-bedroom-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The founder of the Chinese motorcycle brand ZXMOTO, Zhang Xue, has stoked controversy after saying his company did not take “a single cent” from the government. His comments sparked accusations that Chongqing municipality in southwestern China where ZXMOTO is based, “does not support local business” and “has no eye for good stuff”. ZXMOTO took social media by storm last week, after French rider Valentin Debise won two races in the WorldSSP class of the Superbike World Championship on its... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349357/china-zxmoto-founder-revokes-not-getting-cent-government-remark-after-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349357/china-zxmoto-founder-revokes-not-getting-cent-government-remark-after-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu American outdoor apparel brand Patagonia is facing significant backlash online after implementing an “earth usage fee” for online orders, aimed at curbing excessive returns. Announced on March 30, the fee applies exclusively to purchases made through its Tmall store, a premium online shopping platform operated by Alibaba, which also owns the South China Morning Post. During last year’s Double 11 shopping festival, Patagonia’s Tmall store shipped 16,179 packages, leading to a staggering return... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3349342/patagonia-faces-criticism-earth-usage-fee-online-orders-curb-excessive-returns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3349342/patagonia-faces-criticism-earth-usage-fee-online-orders-curb-excessive-returns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:19:33 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang For most ordinary people in ancient China, using the toilet was a routine necessity. In the imperial court, however, even the most private act became a carefully staged display of status and ritual. Papermaking, one of China’s Four Great Inventions, had emerged by the Han dynasty (206 BC–220), yet paper remained too precious for daily use. Instead of toilet paper, commoners relied on leaves, pebbles, or tiles for personal cleaning, while the elite used silk or cloth. They also employed slender... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349307/ancient-china-lavish-toilet-routines-nobles-used-silk-empress-cixi-had-28-maids-serve-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349307/ancient-china-lavish-toilet-routines-nobles-used-silk-empress-cixi-had-28-maids-serve-her?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Taoist priest in China, dressed in a traditional Taoist robe and holding a trifold mobile phone, recently garnered attention on social media, not only for his impressive academic background but also for his life advice resonating with the younger generation. Zhang Gaocheng, 74, serves as the deputy director of the Taoist Association of China, the highest-level semi-government organisation of the religion. He came into the spotlight after attending the Chinese People’s Political Consultative... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349242/tech-phd-china-taoist-priest-zhang-gaocheng-inspires-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349242/tech-phd-china-taoist-priest-zhang-gaocheng-inspires-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000