https://www.scmp.com/rss/328449/feed Arman Dzidzovic is a senior video producer at Inkstone. He has directed documentaries for VICE, the New York Times, VICE News on HBO, and Sports Illustrated. He is interested in all things China and how it is shaping the world. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com China’s final BeiDou-3 satellite for its global navigation system was launched on June 23, 2020, at 9.43am, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the southwest province of Sichuan. A Long March 3B rocket carried the satellite into orbit, completing the third-generation network for the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. BeiDou is the fourth major global satellite navigation system, following GPS built by the US, Russia's Glosnass and the European Union's Galileo. https://www.scmp.com/china/china-launches-last-piece-beidou-navigation-satellite-system-orbit/article/3090346?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/china-launches-last-piece-beidou-navigation-satellite-system-orbit/article/3090346?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2020 09:20:44 +0000 Hong Kong marked the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown amid a police ban on the annual Victoria Park vigil because of Covid-19 social distancing restrictions. Thousands defied the ban and gathered in the park anyway. Elsewhere in the city, people gathered to light candles and held a moment of silence to commemorate those who died in the crackdown on June 4, 1989. https://www.scmp.com/politics/hongkongers-defy-ban-mark-tiananmen-crackdown/article/3087662?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hongkongers-defy-ban-mark-tiananmen-crackdown/article/3087662?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:20:57 +0000 Chinese students studying abroad have taken advantage of the freedoms they have outside China to voice their political views. In February, Hong Kong political activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law were invited to speak at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. The event outraged some international students from mainland China. Inkstone joined them as they organized a protest on campus. https://www.scmp.com/society/chinese-students-find-their-voices-us-college-campuses/article/3086349?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/chinese-students-find-their-voices-us-college-campuses/article/3086349?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2020 12:50:38 +0000 Less than three years after starting a new life in America, Wang Zhongxia found himself driving an ambulance through the eerily empty streets of New York. Wang, an emergency medical technician, moved to the United States to seek political asylum after fleeing Beijing in 2017. He was only seven months into his hospital job when the worst disaster since 9/11 hit the city. Stationed near the south Brooklyn waterfront, Wang worked shifts as long as 16 hours to respond to 911 calls reporting flu-like... https://www.scmp.com/society/xis-china-or-trumps-america-new-york-paramedic-has-seen-both/article/3082293?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/xis-china-or-trumps-america-new-york-paramedic-has-seen-both/article/3082293?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:54:51 +0000 The coronavirus pandemic has upended lives across the world. For students, it means facing a future that’s more precarious than ever before. Inkstone speaks to young Chinese people to find out how the crisis is shaping their future and even changing their worldview. https://www.scmp.com/society/coming-age-during-pandemic/article/3082068?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/coming-age-during-pandemic/article/3082068?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2020 11:04:15 +0000 Wet markets in China have been singled out as the source of the coronavirus pandemic, and some officials have called for them to be shut. Are they really to blame? https://www.scmp.com/health/are-wet-markets-blame-coronavirus/article/3080146?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/health/are-wet-markets-blame-coronavirus/article/3080146?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2020 10:29:54 +0000 While mask-wearing has become a part of life in East Asia since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, it has remained rare in the United States and Europe. In some cases, mask wearers of Asian descent have been frowned upon or even assaulted. We look at the history of surgical mask use during disease outbreaks and how they have become shunned in the place where the practice originated: America. https://www.scmp.com/health/coronavirus-pandemic-could-change-way-we-look-masks/article/3076688?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/health/coronavirus-pandemic-could-change-way-we-look-masks/article/3076688?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2020 11:08:47 +0000 China’s proposed bill on granting permanent residency to foreigners has unleashed a wave of xenophobia on the Chinese internet. Even though China has one of the lowest shares of foreign-born people in the entire world, many people worry that a potential rise in foreign immigrants will make their life harder. In response to the bill, people have posted hostile comments online, especially against black people and Muslims, demanding that the government toughen rules on immigration. We spoke with... https://www.scmp.com/society/immigration-backlash-i-cant-accept-china-having-people-different-skin-colors/article/3074386?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/immigration-backlash-i-cant-accept-china-having-people-different-skin-colors/article/3074386?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:24:15 +0000 The Chinese government on Saturday has promised to revise a draft bill on issuing “green cards” to foreigners after the proposal unleashed a wave of online xenophobia. China has one of the world’s strictest permanent residency programs, but many citizens say they don’t want more immigrants, especially black people, to settle in the country. Millions of angry comments have flooded Chinese social media to protest against a plan that Beijing said was meant to attract more foreign talent to boost... https://www.scmp.com/society/chinas-draft-bill-permanent-residency-unleashes-hostile-comments-against-foreigners/article/3074244?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/chinas-draft-bill-permanent-residency-unleashes-hostile-comments-against-foreigners/article/3074244?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2020 10:57:52 +0000 Chinese and Thai cultures are linked for more than just their love of food. They have also been trading cooking styles and ingredients for generations. Traders from both regions often traveled between the two countries, bringing spices and cooking techniques to the other. You can taste it in Thai cooking today. We meet Chinnapatt Chongtong, founder of the Chili Paste Tour and a Thai food expert, in Bangkok to find out where these links come from and the Chinese culinary traditions hidden in... https://www.scmp.com/food/secret-connection-between-chinese-and-thai-food/article/3051321?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/food/secret-connection-between-chinese-and-thai-food/article/3051321?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2020 10:21:10 +0000 For professional fighters, nerves before a match come with the job. But for Xu Xiaodong, China’s most controversial mixed martial artist, successfully leaving the country on a clear, cold day in November seemed like an impossible challenge. Standing in the departure hall of Beijing’s new international airport on a planned trip to Bangkok, Xu looked calm. But beneath the barrel-chested facade, the 41-year-old was full of worry. He felt like he was taking a huge gamble. Would he be allowed to... https://www.scmp.com/society/chinas-mma-fighter-xu-xiaodong-fight-survival/article/3047417?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/chinas-mma-fighter-xu-xiaodong-fight-survival/article/3047417?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2020 05:12:20 +0000 The first time Alan, 32 and living in Texas, smoked the drug he bought online from China, he thought he would die.  He mixed a tiny amount of the powder, similar to the size of an eyelash, with dried plant leaves, smoked the concoction and immediately started losing control of his body. “I got sick. I was puking all over the place,” the 30-year-old recalled on the phone. “I kind of passed out. I blacked out, and in my mind I kind of had a death trip experience where I thought that I had... https://www.scmp.com/health/chinese-chemical-companies-are-helping-fuel-new-class-dangerous-recreational-drugs-and-research/article/3033297?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/health/chinese-chemical-companies-are-helping-fuel-new-class-dangerous-recreational-drugs-and-research/article/3033297?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:24:38 +0000 As melting sea ice makes shipping across the North Pole more viable, the Arctic Ocean has become an important region for countries to expand their presence. The Artic's potential has led to a spat between the US and China, both vying for influence around the North Pole and the potential economic opportunities. In the video above, we look into why the region is so important and why tension over China’s plans there could escalate. https://www.scmp.com/politics/china-has-its-eyes-arctic-us-fighting-against-their-claims/article/3047126?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/china-has-its-eyes-arctic-us-fighting-against-their-claims/article/3047126?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jan 2020 09:23:51 +0000 The 41-year-old mixed martial arts fighter Xu Xiaodong has been a controversial figure in China ever since he became famous for beating up what he called “fake” kung fu masters. Unafraid to talk about almost anything, his brash attitude has brought him stardom but also unexpected – and unwelcome – knocks on his door. In November, he set out to prove that he’s more than a tough guy who dared to challenge a cherished Chinese tradition. In the video above, Inkstone follows Xu, nicknamed “Mad... https://www.scmp.com/sports/chinas-mma-star-xu-xiaodong-fights-his-freedom/article/3042374?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sports/chinas-mma-star-xu-xiaodong-fights-his-freedom/article/3042374?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2019 10:12:45 +0000 The pro-democracy camp has won by a landslide in Sunday’s district polls as voters show their support to the anti-government protests.  The district council election had been seen as a test of public opinion on the continuing protests that have disrupted traffic and caused violent clashes between protesters and police.  In 2015, pro-democracy politicians only held 126 elected seats on the district council. In 2019, they won 388 seats, making pro-Beijing politicians the minority. (Candidates are... https://www.scmp.com/politics/pro-democracy-candidates-win-majority-hong-kong-district-council-election/article/3039181?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/pro-democracy-candidates-win-majority-hong-kong-district-council-election/article/3039181?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Nov 2019 11:53:19 +0000 Most of Hong Kong’s protests have taken place on weekends, but now protesters are gathering on weekdays to pressure the government to address their demands.  In Central, the financial district that is home to banks and luxury stores, office workers have been showing up during lunchtime since Monday to voice their anger toward the government and police.  On Wednesday, hundreds of people joined the protest, before riot police were deployed to disperse the crowd.  In the video above, we spoke to... https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-office-workers-join-lunchtime-protest-financial-district/article/3037553?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-office-workers-join-lunchtime-protest-financial-district/article/3037553?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:55:46 +0000 How do you pronounce the surname of the US presidential candidate Andrew Yang? Does it rhyme with “gang,” as in “Yang Gang”?  While this pronunciation may be intuitive to Americans – it’s how the Democratic hopeful says his name – it might sound a little off to Chinese ears. In the video above, we explain the difference between how Mandarin speakers pronounce the popular Chinese last name and how most Americans say it. https://www.scmp.com/politics/why-andrew-yangs-name-sounds-weird-chinese-speakers/article/3036768?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/why-andrew-yangs-name-sounds-weird-chinese-speakers/article/3036768?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Nov 2019 12:02:40 +0000 China has finally launched 5G networks around the country, offering breakneck internet speeds of up to 1GB per second to Chinese mobile phone users. 5G is set to transform digital life, and China is one of the places leading the charge with investments in 5G infrastructure and technology.  Although Chinese 5G plans are on sale for as little as $18 a month, many Chinese internet users aren’t rushing to sign up. Watch the video, above, to find out why. https://www.scmp.com/tech/5g-finally-launches-china/article/3036225?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/5g-finally-launches-china/article/3036225?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Nov 2019 10:34:31 +0000 In one of Hong Kong’s most popular nightlife districts, Halloween is usually an occasion for drinking and partying. This year, however, the spooky holiday was turned into a night of protest against the government and the police. Watch the video, above, to find out how demonstrators in masks and costumes celebrated a special Halloween. https://www.scmp.com/politics/halloween-protests-spook-hong-kong/article/3035937?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/halloween-protests-spook-hong-kong/article/3035937?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Nov 2019 10:49:24 +0000 Months of anti-government protests have roiled Hong Kong and exposed deep divisions in society. Politics has colored and changed seemingly everything, from where people eat and shop to weddings. Watch the video, above, for a look into the divide tearing the city apart. https://www.scmp.com/society/inside-hong-kongs-deep-divide/article/3035684?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/inside-hong-kongs-deep-divide/article/3035684?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Oct 2019 10:13:50 +0000 Like most armies around the world, the Chinese military has its own brand of ready-to-eat meals, designed to be eaten out in the field.  It’s a challenge to cater to the different tastes in the world’s biggest armed force. Chinese soldiers have in the past complained about the plain flavors of their rations.  Despite that, rations made for the People’s Liberation Army have become popular among the country’s military enthusiasts. PLA meal packs can be easily found on online shopping sites.  We... https://www.scmp.com/food/taste-test-chinas-military-mre-food/article/3034592?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/food/taste-test-chinas-military-mre-food/article/3034592?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Oct 2019 12:37:10 +0000 Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam held her first town hall with Hong Kong residents on Thursday, following three months of anti-government protests. Lam says she wants to engage directly with the people, but protesters have called the event a publicity stunt aimed at promoting her own agenda.  The first group of about 150 attendees was randomly selected from among more than 20,000 applicants.  Many attacked Lam fiercely and voiced support for the protesters’ demands, while a few other... https://www.scmp.com/politics/carrie-lam-holds-first-community-dialogue-hong-kong-citizens-amid-protests/article/3030671?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/carrie-lam-holds-first-community-dialogue-hong-kong-citizens-amid-protests/article/3030671?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Sep 2019 11:12:46 +0000 On a remote mountainside overlooking a misty valley, rows of cannabis plants are growing near fields of tobacco and corn. This isn’t a pot farm in California. It’s in southwestern China’s Yunnan. China has one of the strictest drug control policies in the world. But here in a mountainous region bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, cannabis is being touted as a crop that could bring untold wealth to farmers and businesses. That’s because these plants won’t get you high. They don’t have enough of... https://www.scmp.com/business/how-china-gearing-fuel-americas-cannabis-cbd-craze/article/3030424?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/how-china-gearing-fuel-americas-cannabis-cbd-craze/article/3030424?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Sep 2019 10:00:18 +0000 A boom in the popularity of cannabis-derived cannabidiol (CBD) in the US and Europe has started a frenzy of interest in commercial hemp grown in China. CBD is believed to help cure a range of illnesses, even though there is little scientific evidence. But that hasn’t stopped the industry from growing. The global CBD market is expected to hit $16 billion by 2025, according to one estimate. Viola Zhou visited southwestern China’s Yunnan province, where it is legal to grow commercial cannabis, to... https://www.scmp.com/china/china-wants-sell-you-cbd-and-become-worlds-biggest-cannabis-grower/article/3029989?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/china-wants-sell-you-cbd-and-become-worlds-biggest-cannabis-grower/article/3029989?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Sep 2019 09:36:11 +0000 On June 30, 1997, the last day of British Hong Kong, the Union Jack came down. After more than 150 years of British colonial rule, Hong Kong returned to Chinese control. But 22 years after the five-starred Chinese flag went up in the former British colony, a handful of young Hongkongers have taken to waving British and American flags in protests demanding democracy and accountability. Why would they do that? We speak to the protesters to find out the messages behind the symbols. https://www.scmp.com/politics/messages-behind-foreign-flags-hong-kongs-protests/article/3023867?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/messages-behind-foreign-flags-hong-kongs-protests/article/3023867?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Aug 2019 11:09:30 +0000 A modern dance drama inspired by Bruce Lee’s “be water” mantra is being staged in Hong Kong, his childhood home.  The Odyssey of Little Dragon, produced by the City Contemporary Dance Company, portrays Lee’s life in Hong Kong and the United States, the development of his kung fu philosophy, and the merging of his Eastern and Western identities. The performance is being staged from August 16 to 18, during a time of political unrest in Hong Kong.  For more than two months, anti-government... https://www.scmp.com/arts/bruce-lee-be-water-inspires-dance-show-hong-kong-amid-protests/article/3023151?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/arts/bruce-lee-be-water-inspires-dance-show-hong-kong-amid-protests/article/3023151?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Aug 2019 11:31:00 +0000 Thousands of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong have taken over the city’s airport, one of the busiest in the world, for a second day. The airport was forced to cancel all flights leaving on Tuesday evening, although incoming flights were allowed to land. Some travelers, who had missed two days of flights, grew angry and argued with protesters in heated confrontations. Scuffles between impatient passengers and #AntiELAB protesters like this have happened a few times along the cart chain... https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-protesters-disrupt-airport-another-day/article/3022647?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-protesters-disrupt-airport-another-day/article/3022647?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2019 12:57:16 +0000 As anti-government protests in Hong Kong enter their 10th week with no end in sight, safety equipment including gas masks and helmets are in high demand among demonstrators. Make-shift donation stations have been popping up around protests sites since the movement started, with people donating things such as food, medical supplies and safety gear. We take a look at the grassroots donation system to see how supporters and donors help keep the protesters out on the streets week after week. https://www.scmp.com/politics/grassroots-donations-fuel-hong-kongs-protests/article/3022444?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/grassroots-donations-fuel-hong-kongs-protests/article/3022444?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2019 12:11:04 +0000 After a weekend of anti-government protests, parts of Hong Kong were brought to a standstill on Monday by a strike. Protesters have demanded the full withdrawal of a contentious extradition bill, an investigation of alleged police misconduct and democratic elections. At the Hong Kong International Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in the world, some air traffic controllers, flight attendants and members of ground staff called in sick. Over 200 flights were canceled. In other parts of the... https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-international-airport-cancels-over-200-flights/article/3021500?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-international-airport-cancels-over-200-flights/article/3021500?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2019 11:22:37 +0000 “Reclaim Hong Kong!” chanted thousands of protesters wearing black T-shirts, goggles and helmets as they faced off against hundreds of anti-riot police in northern Hong Kong.  The sky was blanketed in white fog as police fired round after round of tear gas to disperse the anti-government demonstrators. They had gathered to vent their anger at a mob attack against protesters and bystanders at the local train station a few days before.  The protesters, choking from tear gas, began running away... https://www.scmp.com/politics/first-aid-volunteers-help-hong-kong-protesters-injured-police-tear-gas/article/3020486?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/first-aid-volunteers-help-hong-kong-protesters-injured-police-tear-gas/article/3020486?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:28:20 +0000 Hong Kong’s recent anti-government protests have increasingly turned into violent clashes, with police using tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse angry crowds. Over the past two months, self-organized first-aid teams, who are not affiliated with the city’s emergency healthcare services, have sprung up to help anyone injured in the confrontations. The volunteers come from different walks of life: doctors, nurses, medical students and others with first-aid training. Inkstone... https://www.scmp.com/society/front-lines-hong-kongs-first-aid-squads/article/3020741?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/front-lines-hong-kongs-first-aid-squads/article/3020741?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Jul 2019 09:48:59 +0000 Thousands of people held a sit-in at the Hong Kong International Airport, calling on travelers to support the city’s continuing anti-government protests.  Protesters joined airline workers, most wearing black, at the airport’s busy arrival hall on Friday afternoon, chanting slogans, signing petitions and handing out flyers to tourists. Airport operations were not affected.  Hong Kong people have been taking to the streets every weekend for more than a month to protest against a now-suspended... https://www.scmp.com/politics/flight-attendants-protest-against-government-hong-kong-international-airport/article/3020250?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/flight-attendants-protest-against-government-hong-kong-international-airport/article/3020250?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2019 10:42:02 +0000 Christians are playing an important role in Hong Kong’s ongoing protests, which aim to preserve the city’s freedoms and autonomy.  While the Chinese government has been accused of cracking down on religious freedom in the mainland, religious groups in the former British colony of Hong Kong are flourishing.  During the campaign against a now-dead extradition bill, Christians were among those taking to the streets. Churches have become temporary support centers. The hymn ‘Sing Hallelujah to the... https://www.scmp.com/politics/christians-protest-defend-hong-kong-autonomy-and-religious-freedom/article/3019582?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/christians-protest-defend-hong-kong-autonomy-and-religious-freedom/article/3019582?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2019 11:05:18 +0000 Another two major protests erupted in Hong Kong over the weekend, as the massive anti-extradition bill campaign unleashed widespread grievances against the government.  In Sheung Shui, a district near the border between Hong Kong and mainland China, thousands of people protested on Saturday against the traders who buy up products in the city to re-sell in mainland China. The traders were accused of ruining the local neighborhood.  Hong Kong's chief executive has called the extradition bill... https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-anti-extradition-protesters-march-against-mainland-parallel-traders/article/3018652?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-anti-extradition-protesters-march-against-mainland-parallel-traders/article/3018652?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2019 11:39:28 +0000 In Hong Kong’s Victoria Park, under the searing afternoon sun, a huge crowd set off on a peaceful march on Monday, waving banners and chanting slogans. At the same time, about a mile and a half away, a smaller group of masked protesters tried to storm the city’s legislature by ramming the building’s reinforced windows with a metal cart and rods. July 1 marks the official day that Hong Kong was handed over to China, in 1997. It’s a day of both official celebration of the ex-British colony’s... https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-people-join-mass-protest-against-beijing-july-1-handover-anniversary/article/3016741?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-people-join-mass-protest-against-beijing-july-1-handover-anniversary/article/3016741?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2019 11:00:10 +0000 Even though streetwear brand Supreme doesn't have a single store in China, you'll probably see it in almost every major Chinese city. While the brand selling "Supreme" in China might not be the original from New York, it is a testament to the immense popularity of streetwear in China. Last year, Chinese spending on luxury streetwear goods rose by 62%.  And as the industry grows, foreign brands are trying to capitalize, while Chinese streetwear labels aim to expand abroad. In the video above, we... https://www.scmp.com/style/chinese-hypebeasts-fake-supreme-and-balenciaga-hats-inside-chinas-growing-streetwear-scene/article/3016373?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/style/chinese-hypebeasts-fake-supreme-and-balenciaga-hats-inside-chinas-growing-streetwear-scene/article/3016373?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jun 2019 10:21:44 +0000 Hong Kong activists are appealing to foreign governments to help defend the city’s autonomy, as they continue fighting against a now-suspended bill that could allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China.  Hundreds of mostly young people marched to more than a dozen foreign consulates in drizzling rain on Wednesday, to ask diplomats to advocate for Hong Kong at the upcoming G20 summit.  The city's top leader, Carrie Lam, has apologized repeatedly and suspended the extradition bill following... https://www.scmp.com/politics/protesters-march-consulates-g20-advocate-hong-kong-autonomy/article/3016112?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/protesters-march-consulates-g20-advocate-hong-kong-autonomy/article/3016112?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:25:36 +0000 China's President Xi Jinping touched down in Pyongyang on Thursday, making him the first Chinese leader to visit North Korea in almost 15 years. The meeting between Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un comes at an important time for both nations. Each needs to get something out of this trip. North Korea is looking for a new way to boost its economy, and China needs a bargaining chip in the form of a denuclearized North Korea to bring to its talks with the US. In the video above, we spoke with... https://www.scmp.com/politics/no-chinese-leader-has-visited-north-korea-over-decade-so-why-xi-jinping-pyongyang/article/3015332?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/no-chinese-leader-has-visited-north-korea-over-decade-so-why-xi-jinping-pyongyang/article/3015332?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jun 2019 08:58:03 +0000 Almost 2 million people marched on Sunday against a contentious extradition bill, according to organizers.  Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, apologized and suspended the legislation amid an uproar over concerns that the bill would expose the semi-autonomous city’s residents to the opaque legal system in mainland China. But protesters are not done with their fight. On Monday morning, demonstrators occupied the space in and around the Hong Kong government’s headquarters to demand the extradition... https://www.scmp.com/society/hong-kong-protest-fight-goes/article/3014853?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/hong-kong-protest-fight-goes/article/3014853?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jun 2019 09:52:44 +0000 A sea of umbrellas, clouds of tear gas and crowds of determined youngsters. It’s a scene eerily reminiscent of five years ago, when Occupy Central protesters paralyzed Hong Kong’s financial district to demand greater democracy. The 2014 protests are also known as the Umbrella Movement, named after protesters’ defense of choice against police pepper spray. On Wednesday, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers again blocked part of a major business district for a different cause: they’re calling on the... https://www.scmp.com/politics/anti-extradition-law-protesters-block-roads-near-legislative-council/article/3014153?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/anti-extradition-law-protesters-block-roads-near-legislative-council/article/3014153?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:52:21 +0000 As in the United States, there are stereotypes about ethnic groups in China, especially those from its remote western provinces.  Akin, an ethnic Kazakh and musician from Xinjiang, is trying to break the mold. We followed Akin around Shanghai while he prepared to headline one of China’s biggest music festivals.  Dressed in an ironic Duck Dynasty shirt, he explains how he was inspired by American hip-hop and R&B from the 90s, and why he brought that sound to China.  In the video above, he told us... https://www.scmp.com/arts/how-independent-xinjiang-rb-artist-smashing-stereotypes-china/article/3013969?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/arts/how-independent-xinjiang-rb-artist-smashing-stereotypes-china/article/3013969?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2019 09:49:33 +0000 Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong people took to the streets on Sunday to protest against a proposed law that could allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China.  A former British colony, Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997 under the promise that the city could enjoy civil liberties not available in the mainland.  But in recent years, Beijing’s growing influence over Hong Kong has triggered concerns about the city’s autonomy.  Many people are worried the extradition... https://www.scmp.com/politics/massive-protest-hong-kong-against-extradition-bill-calling-freedom-and-autonomy/article/3013859?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/massive-protest-hong-kong-against-extradition-bill-calling-freedom-and-autonomy/article/3013859?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:59:10 +0000 The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the traditional Chinese calendar. This year it's on June 7. These days, the occasion is celebrated by racing dragon boats and eating rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.  But the festivities had a tragic origin. Watch the video above to find out. https://www.scmp.com/society/legendary-tale-behind-dragon-boat-festival/article/3013161?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/legendary-tale-behind-dragon-boat-festival/article/3013161?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:52:23 +0000 The United States raised tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25% on Friday after President Trump accused China of backtracking on its commitments. Beijing said it will retaliate. Trump’s maneuver took many people by surprise, even pushing some Chinese people to turn to The Art of the Deal to find out why it happened. As the US-China trade war escalates, we picked three key things that have been heavily impacted by the trade war and which will surely feel the pinch of new tariffs. Watch... https://www.scmp.com/business/three-casualties-us-china-trade-war/article/3009730?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/three-casualties-us-china-trade-war/article/3009730?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 May 2019 10:55:38 +0000 This year has been one of the best ever for foreign films in China. Avengers: Endgame hauled in $330 million for its opening weekend in China, the highest ever for a foreign film in the country. China’s box office is the second biggest in the world, and will probably surpass the US in the coming years. Hollywood is increasingly looking towards Chinese audiences for revenue, and is trying to make films that will be a hit in China as well as the US. But since only a few foreign films are allowed... https://www.scmp.com/society/china-rewriting-hollywoods-blockbusters/article/3009360?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/china-rewriting-hollywoods-blockbusters/article/3009360?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 May 2019 10:28:38 +0000 Across China, some young people are switching from jeans and T-shirts to long dresses, silky robes and black hats. They’re not cosplayers or period drama actors, but rather members of a booming movement to turn Hanfu, or ethnic Han clothing, into everyday wear. The so-called Hanfu movement has gained a large following among the ethnic Han Chinese group, which makes up more than 90% of the Chinese population. Supporters say Han people need traditional attires to celebrate their own ethnic... https://www.scmp.com/society/chinas-han-clothing-movement-cloak-nationalism/article/3005369?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/chinas-han-clothing-movement-cloak-nationalism/article/3005369?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:26:15 +0000 All-in-one messaging apps in China are ubiquitous and know everything there is to know about a user’s digital life.  But how well these services protect this valuable information has come under question after a researcher discovered an open database of 340 million private chat records. Private messages, personal identification information and even locations of the users were left out in the open for anyone to access until the researcher, Victor Gevers of the GDI Foundation, reported it to a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/340-million-private-messages-found-chinese-open-database-creating-privacy-concerns/article/3003129?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/340-million-private-messages-found-chinese-open-database-creating-privacy-concerns/article/3003129?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Mar 2019 09:28:06 +0000 China’s dinner tables used to be about rice and simple stir-fries – but today, the country’s expanding middle class is tucking into foods from across the world. Over the past four decades, the opening-up of the Chinese economy has completely changed how people in China eat. As consumers become more wealthy, they’re seeking different tastes, from traditional Chinese dishes to Western food to new inventions made popular by social media. Viola Zhou investigates China’s fast-changing food scene –... https://www.scmp.com/food/how-economic-reforms-transformed-chinas-dinner-tables/article/3001278?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/food/how-economic-reforms-transformed-chinas-dinner-tables/article/3001278?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Mar 2019 10:49:51 +0000 China's “Two Sessions” is a highly choreographed set of meetings, with delegates from across the country coming to Beijing mostly to rubber-stamp legislation.  Often it can be a snoozefest – but if you look closely, you might be able to find a few hints as what’s going on behind the scenes of the Communist Party’s pageantry. From tea cups to grey hair to sexual assault allegations, Adam White breaks down some of the signs behind this year's meeting. https://www.scmp.com/china/reading-between-lines-chinas-two-sessions/article/3001121?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/reading-between-lines-chinas-two-sessions/article/3001121?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Mar 2019 10:13:15 +0000 Rachel Lai Yee-laam is an amateur photographer, artist and plant-breeder from Hong Kong. The self-taught photographer draws on a unique aesthetic and sense of color to create her works. Check out our gallery, above, for more. https://www.scmp.com/style/last-wonton-gentle-and-beautiful-images-rachel-lai/article/3001067?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/style/last-wonton-gentle-and-beautiful-images-rachel-lai/article/3001067?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Mar 2019 09:29:37 +0000