https://www.scmp.com/rss/330798/feed Latest news, analysis, explainers and updates on policy announcements, corporate developments and investment opportunities focused on the Guangdong provincial capital under the Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative in southern China’s Pearl River Delta The coverage includes politics and policies, business, lifestyle and culture and useful to-do guides about living, working and studying in the GBA. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s top tech hub, Shenzhen, saw retail sales grow by just 0.5 per cent year on year in the first quarter after reporting gross domestic product growth of 5.8 per cent for the same period, casting a spotlight on its unbalanced development as mortgage and living costs weigh heavily on residents’ sentiment. A policy analyst said the city, in southern China’s Guangdong province, could have already seen retail sales decline if not for the rising number of bargain-hunters from Hong Kong crossing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352367/shenzhens-retail-sales-flatline-export-boom-fails-benefit-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352367/shenzhens-retail-sales-flatline-export-boom-fails-benefit-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu A court in China has ruled it illegal for a company to terminate an employee on the grounds that an artificial intelligence replacement would be cheaper, affirming limits on AI-driven job displacement amid a wave of anxiety over the technology’s potential to fuel unemployment. A 35-year-old worker surnamed Zhou who oversaw AI-generated responses at a fintech firm in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang province, was fired after refusing a demotion and pay cut. The company told him his role... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352327/ai-cost-cutting-not-legal-excuse-fire-workers-chinese-court-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352327/ai-cost-cutting-not-legal-excuse-fire-workers-chinese-court-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 07:42:16 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng For decades, the global image of Chinese trade was synonymous with massive container ships loaded with footwear, bags and furniture. However, a profound structural shift is under way. Having conquered the world of physical goods, China is now rapidly ascending the industrial chain as an emerging exporter of manufacturing technology. In 2025, the country’s exports of telecoms, computer and information services reached 808 billion yuan (US$118 billion), marking a robust 13 per cent year-on-year... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352020/footwear-ai-services-china-moves-value-chain-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352020/footwear-ai-services-china-moves-value-chain-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 12:30:12 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The 11th National Security Education Day once again showcased Hong Kong’s commitment to safeguarding stability while deepening integration into China’s national framework. Yet beneath the banners and speeches lies a sobering truth: the city’s future hinges not only on patriotic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352104/hong-kong-must-prioritise-well-being-flag-bearers-tomorrow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352104/hong-kong-must-prioritise-well-being-flag-bearers-tomorrow?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Tour groups from Hong Kong to mainland China are expected to rise by up to 40 per cent year on year over the Labour Day weekend, with travel agents citing improved safety and hygiene as key factors attracting visitors. The agents also said that slight increases in fuel surcharges for flights to Asian destinations were not the main driver of shifting outbound travel patterns among Hong Kong residents; instead, they pointed to the novelty and wide range of mainland options. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351916/hong-kong-tour-groups-mainland-china-surge-40-labour-day-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351916/hong-kong-tour-groups-mainland-china-surge-40-labour-day-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Guangdong will “actively align” with Hong Kong’s strategy for the Northern Metropolis megaproject and highlight areas of collaboration as part of the province’s 15th five-year plan. The Guangdong provincial government on Tuesday published its development blueprint, with the term “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” mentioned 57 times in the document and a chapter dedicated to the region’s development. Its proposal for economic and social development, part of Beijing’s sweeping 2026-2030... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351893/guangdong-actively-align-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351893/guangdong-actively-align-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:15:14 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Last month, Hong Kong completed its first green methanol bunkering operation, a significant step in its efforts to support the decarbonisation of global shipping. As the maritime industry accelerates its transition towards cleaner fuels, this milestone signals Hong Kong’s intent to remain relevant. The global blue economy, defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and environmental health, is gaining urgency. No longer confined to environmental discussions, it is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The long-standing rivalry between China’s two largest economic heavyweights – with each boasting a gross domestic product comparable to Group of Seven members Italy and Canada – reflects the regional dynamism and shifting economic gravity within the world’s second-biggest economy. Jiangsu has been threatening to end Guangdong’s uninterrupted reign as China’s largest provincial economy since the late 1980s, and the latest economic data reveals the gap between the two narrowed further in the first... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351572/guangdongs-rule-chinas-gdp-king-faces-unprecedented-threat-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351572/guangdongs-rule-chinas-gdp-king-faces-unprecedented-threat-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A 46-year-old mainland Chinese woman was rescued on Sunday morning after slipping into the sea while taking photos at a lighthouse in Hong Kong’s Sai Kung. Police received a report at 10.54am that a woman had fallen into the water at Fat Tong Mun, a sea channel between the southern tip of the Clear Water Bay Peninsula and the northern tip of Tung Lung Chau. A source said the woman was taking photos with friends at Fat Tong Mun Lighthouse when she lost her footing and fell three metres (9.8 feet)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351475/woman-rescued-after-falling-sea-while-taking-photos-hong-kong-lighthouse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351475/woman-rescued-after-falling-sea-while-taking-photos-hong-kong-lighthouse?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:28:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Southwestern China’s busiest airport was mopping up and struggling to resume operations on Sunday after a massive hailstorm grounded flights, damaged aircraft and stranded passengers. Hailstones, some as big as fists, battered Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, Yunnan province, when the storm struck early on Saturday. The storm lashed runways, terminal roofs and some of the more than 110 aircraft at the facility on Saturday morning, with water seen seeping down into terminal... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3351469/southwestern-chinas-busiest-airport-disrupted-biggest-hailstorm-decades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3351469/southwestern-chinas-busiest-airport-disrupted-biggest-hailstorm-decades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:27:39 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 5,000 Guangdong motorists have been approved to drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas under a southbound travel scheme as of March, while 90 per cent of the 3,500 travellers who booked to visit have stayed for one or two days. The Transport Department said on Sunday that the urban access portion of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles arrangement was operating smoothly and had become increasingly popular since its launch near the end of 2025. The scheme currently grants access to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351467/over-5000-guangdong-motorists-sign-hong-kongs-southbound-travel-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351467/over-5000-guangdong-motorists-sign-hong-kongs-southbound-travel-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:01:09 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Once a niche destination, Central Asia is quickly emerging as a key market for Chinese travellers, supported by robust traffic growth, expanding air links and deeper economic ties under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, according to analysts. Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed that passenger traffic to Central Asia grew 59.3 per cent in 2025 from a year earlier, marking one of the fastest growth rates among all regions tracked, said Mayur Patel, commercial and industry... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351340/chinese-travellers-flock-central-asia-flight-bookings-soar-120-pre-covid-levels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351340/chinese-travellers-flock-central-asia-flight-bookings-soar-120-pre-covid-levels?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong China’s largest fund manager has doubled down on consumer stocks, betting on a rebound in spending as early signs of stabilisation emerge in the property and catering sectors. Zhang Kun, who oversees US$6.9 billion at Guangzhou-based E Fund Management, increased exposure to leading baijiu makers and e-commerce platforms in his flagship mutual fund during the first quarter, according to a quarterly filing released on Thursday. The combined assets of the four funds he manages remain the largest... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351290/baijiu-bet-chinas-top-fund-manager-doubles-down-consumers-amid-signs-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351290/baijiu-bet-chinas-top-fund-manager-doubles-down-consumers-amid-signs-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:00:46 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Janusz Pawliszyn, the 71-year-old recipient of the Chemical Institute of Canada’s highest honour and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, has joined Guangzhou’s Sun Yat-sen University, the institution announced on April 9. Pawliszyn has supervised more than 110 master’s and doctoral students as well as nearly 200 postdoctoral students and visiting scholars, many of them from China. Ouyang Gangfeng was one of them. From 2004 to 2005, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Pawliszyn’s laboratory. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350619/canada-research-chair-chemist-janusz-pawliszyn-joins-chinese-university?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350619/canada-research-chair-chemist-janusz-pawliszyn-joins-chinese-university?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Mainland China’s first-tier home prices edged up 0.2 per cent in March, rising after nine months of losses and no change in February, but it is too soon to declare the property market stable without sustained improvement in homebuying demand, according to analysts. Compared with a month earlier, March home prices were flat in Beijing, rose 0.3 per cent in Shanghai and Guangzhou, and gained 0.2 per cent in Shenzhen, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350276/new-home-prices-chinas-biggest-cities-record-first-rise-10-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350276/new-home-prices-chinas-biggest-cities-record-first-rise-10-months?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:20 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Rising tensions in the Middle East cast a fresh shadow over the opening of China’s largest trade fair, at a time when the impact of geopolitical shocks is being reflected in the nation’s trade figures. In conversations across sprawling exhibition halls after the Canton Fair opened its doors on Wednesday in China’s manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, domestic exporters and foreign buyers sounded each other out, trying to gauge how far those shocks might ripple through global trade. The threat of US... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350200/canton-fair-under-middle-east-cloud-sets-records-high-costs-hit-chinas-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350200/canton-fair-under-middle-east-cloud-sets-records-high-costs-hit-chinas-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The US-Israeli war on Iran and the current Iranian and American blockades of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to overshadow China’s first-quarter economic performance, analysts said, with questions looming large about how the world’s second-largest economy will handle their impact. Many observers said they expect the leadership in Beijing will adopt a wait-and-see approach, with little likelihood of an immediate stimulus to guarantee the country’s annual economic target is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3350181/analysts-doubt-iran-war-will-prompt-china-stimulus-tip-solid-first-quarter-gdp-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3350181/analysts-doubt-iran-war-will-prompt-china-stimulus-tip-solid-first-quarter-gdp-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:00:24 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong A Chinese deep-sea mission has successfully tested an advanced device capable of cutting through underwater structures such as submarine cable at a depth of thousands of metres. The “Haiyang Dizhi 2” research vessel completed its first deep-sea scientific mission of 2026 on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The expedition included a cutting test of a deep-sea electro-hydrostatic actuator at a depth of 3,500 metres (11,483 feet), using technology that has drawn attention... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350174/china-tests-submarine-cable-cutter-3500-metre-depth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350174/china-tests-submarine-cable-cutter-3500-metre-depth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:01:06 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Two months after the United States’ capture and forcible extradition of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro – and as the South American country attempts to settle into a state of relative normalcy in the aftermath of the military incursion – a cohort of Chinese migrants are relocating there in search of business opportunities. Not all are new arrivals. Mey Hou, a long-term Venezuela resident in her 40s who fled the country during Maduro’s tenure, said many people from her hometown in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347566/maduros-capture-sparked-outrage-confusion-and-chinese-migration-wave-venezuela?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347566/maduros-capture-sparked-outrage-confusion-and-chinese-migration-wave-venezuela?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:00:07 +0000 Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Hong Kong traveller Mr Lau is among those turning to high-speed rail trips or flights to mainland China after being deterred from international air travel by rising costs, particularly fuel surcharges, as war in the Middle East rages. The 34-year-old, who was travelling to neighbouring Guangzhou with his wife for a three-day trip on a high-speed train on Friday, said he had done some calculations since airlines’ fuel surcharges rose, noting that a return train trip between the two cities cost... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349064/hong-kong-tourists-choose-safety-affordability-trips-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349064/hong-kong-tourists-choose-safety-affordability-trips-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:32:30 +0000 Jane Cai,Alcott Wei Jane Cai,Alcott Wei Beijing should shift its strategy and improve ways to attract and retain top Chinese AI professionals as America’s accelerating integration of artificial intelligence into military and national security systems puts such talent in a bind. As geopolitical tensions rise, many highly skilled Chinese researchers working at US tech and research institutions are confronting a painful dilemma, according to Dai Mingjie, a researcher at the Institute of Public Policy at the Guangzhou-based South China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349047/how-can-beijing-attract-top-tier-chinese-ai-professionals-based-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349047/how-can-beijing-attract-top-tier-chinese-ai-professionals-based-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:00:18 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A new rule in Guangzhou requiring teahouses to declare whether their traditional dim sum is freshly handmade has sparked debate and calls for transparency over how similar meals are made in Hong Kong. Guangzhou authorities on Wednesday released new regulations on morning tea heritage protection, effective on May 1, which mandate that operators must explicitly indicate whether their dim sum dishes are made using traditional on-site methods or through non-traditional means. The mainland Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349037/new-guangzhou-rule-handmade-dim-sum-sparks-debate-heritage-food-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349037/new-guangzhou-rule-handmade-dim-sum-sparks-debate-heritage-food-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:15:55 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai From glimmering floral-patterned glassware to the vivid colours of intricately designed Persian carpets, artefacts from Iran have captivated visitors to a museum in northern China, where they have avoided the risks of damage in the war waged by the US and Israel. The relics, on display at the Inner Mongolia Museum in the regional capital Hohhot since December, have drawn growing attention since the start of the conflict in the Middle East and highlighted a cultural exchange that has been quietly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348939/time-war-chinese-museums-are-safe-haven-ancient-treasures-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348939/time-war-chinese-museums-are-safe-haven-ancient-treasures-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Prime office supply in mainland Chinese cities and Hong Kong is estimated to peak this year, while demand remains hampered by an economic slowdown and global uncertainties, according to Cushman & Wakefield. At the end of 2025, premium office inventory in 21 major cities in Greater China – including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, as well as Taiwan – amounted to 99.2 million square metres (1.07 billion sq ft), up 4.6 million square metres or 8.4 per cent from a year earlier,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348648/mainland-china-hong-kong-premium-office-supply-peak-demand-lags-cushman-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348648/mainland-china-hong-kong-premium-office-supply-peak-demand-lags-cushman-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:13 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As the country with the world’s largest cohort of billionaires, China is no stranger to wealthy elites engaging in luxurious leisure activities, but one common pastime in the West does not seem to have attracted a commensurate level of interest across the Pacific – yachting. While Chinese e-commerce billionaire Richard Liu recently announced a multibillion-dollar investment in a new yacht company, regulatory hurdles and infrastructure gaps have kept China’s wealthiest individuals from fully... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Transactions of pre-owned homes in major Chinese cities led by Shanghai surged in March, fuelling expectations that the country’s embattled property sector may be stabilising. Analysts and brokers said a more active resale market pointed to a gradual return of confidence among homebuyers after a three-year downturn. In Shanghai, about 22,000 second-hand homes changed hands between March 1 and 23, up 170 per cent from the same period a month earlier, according to data from local financial outlet... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348255/rising-second-hand-home-sales-offer-tentative-signs-floor-chinas-property-slump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348255/rising-second-hand-home-sales-offer-tentative-signs-floor-chinas-property-slump?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:00:34 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang A former top official of Guangdong province, widely seen as a “right-hand man” of former provincial governor Ma Xingrui, is under investigation for corruption. The investigation into Guo Yonghang, Communist Party secretary for Guangzhou from June 2023 until December, deepens the uncertainties about the fate of Ma, who was abruptly removed as Xinjiang’s party secretary in July and has since vanished from public life. Guo was named vice-chairman of the Guangdong provincial committee of the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348206/china-puts-ma-xingrui-protege-guo-yonghang-under-investigation-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348206/china-puts-ma-xingrui-protege-guo-yonghang-under-investigation-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs has concluded a five-day fact-finding trip to three mainland Chinese cities in the Greater Bay Area to explore ways of deepening the international financial hub’s integration into the national blueprint. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said its director, Xia Baolong, had visited Guangzhou, Zhaoqing and Foshan on the trip from Monday to Friday, accompanied by officials from the mainland and Hong Kong. “[The trip] focused on how... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348201/beijing-official-visits-greater-bay-area-cities-explore-integrating-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348201/beijing-official-visits-greater-bay-area-cities-explore-integrating-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:47:50 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Xinyi Wu Mia Nurmamat,Xinyi Wu Germany’s chemical giant BASF has launched operations at its China production base – its largest overseas investment to date – with a total outlay of €8.7 billion (US$10 billion), and the country’s first wholly foreign-owned large-scale Verbund site. The company on Thursday inaugurated the world-scale complex in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, designed to run entirely on renewable electricity. A Verbund site is an integrated chemical complex where plants, energy use and materials are... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348021/basf-launches-biggest-overseas-project-china-green-powered-mega-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348021/basf-launches-biggest-overseas-project-china-green-powered-mega-site?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:00:12 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Meltwater from snow-capped mountains is fostering an emerging trout-farming industry thousands of kilometres from the sea in western China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The region, famous for its cotton, is on track to become China’s top trout producer as it ramps up efforts to diversify its agricultural base following criticism of labour practices in the cotton sector that led to import bans overseas. In 2018, in response to rising domestic demand for Atlantic salmon and limited local... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347727/how-salmon-raised-landlocked-xinjiang-netting-fans-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347727/how-salmon-raised-landlocked-xinjiang-netting-fans-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A shadowy go-between known as “Aunt Mei” allegedly involved in a notorious child trafficking case has been arrested, according to police in southern China. Police in the city of Guangzhou said the woman, surnamed Xie, had been identified last year, and the case was still under investigation, state media reported on Saturday. The reports did not specify when the arrest was made. For years, police were aware an intermediary had been involved in the trafficking case, but Aunt Mei remained at large... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3347429/chinas-infamous-aunt-mei-arrested-after-decade-long-hunt-child-trafficker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3347429/chinas-infamous-aunt-mei-arrested-after-decade-long-hunt-child-trafficker?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:16:58 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Swire Coca-Cola has won a HK$31.9 million (US$4 million) contract to supply Bonaqua water to some Hong Kong government offices, following a HK$52.9 million procurement scandal last year. According to a Government Logistics Department notice, Swire Coca-Cola was awarded the 27-month contract on Tuesday to supply more than 1.46 million bottles of drinking water to offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands. The selection followed an open tender launched in December. In its... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347375/swire-coca-cola-wins-hk32-million-government-deal-after-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347375/swire-coca-cola-wins-hk32-million-government-deal-after-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:32:55 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang AstraZeneca said it would establish drug manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai as well as a separate innovation centre in Shanghai, joining a group of foreign players building new plants in China amid geopolitical tensions. The moves are part of a US$15 billion commitment the British firm pledged to make in the world’s second-largest drug market through 2030, unveiled during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in January. China’s manufacturing capabilities, integrated... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:30:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang The Greater Bay Area offers a varied cultural calendar this spring, from headline concerts by pop stars and rock bands to recitals by celebrated pianists and a French musical. Read on to find out what exciting things are coming up in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macau over the next two months. Late March 1. Jane Zhang concert tour (Guangzhou) Known as the “Dolphin Princess” for her signature whistle register, Sichuan-born singer Jane Zhang is bringing her world tour to Guangzhou. Zhang’s list of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347094/nicholas-tse-exo-among-top-music-and-art-events-coming-shenzhen-macau-and-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347094/nicholas-tse-exo-among-top-music-and-art-events-coming-shenzhen-macau-and-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:15:08 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Artificial intelligence is stepping off the screen and into the physical world, as Chinese engineers integrate OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent that has taken China by storm, into robots capable of executing real-world tasks. Domestic robotics giant Ecovacs unveiled Bajie, a robot integrated with OpenClaw, at the Appliance and Electronics World Expo in Shanghai last week. Equipped with a robotic arm and gripper mounted on a round, vacuum-shaped wheeled base, Bajie demonstrated its ability to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346916/how-chinese-robot-makers-are-tapping-openclaw-take-real-world-tasks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346916/how-chinese-robot-makers-are-tapping-openclaw-take-real-world-tasks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Shanghai has become the latest mainland Chinese city to lower the minimum down payment requirement for loans on commercial-use properties – including shops and business flats – from 50 per cent to at least 30 per cent. Analysts said the move could help reduce excess inventory in the struggling commercial real estate market, though stronger measures might still be needed. “There is still a meaningful gap between the minimum down payment ratio for residential properties and that for mixed-use... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346878/shanghai-joins-major-cities-loosening-commercial-property-loan-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346878/shanghai-joins-major-cities-loosening-commercial-property-loan-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:30:40 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Mainland China’s first-tier new home prices were unchanged month on month in February, ending a nine-month decline, while the year-on-year decline continued to widen from tier one to tier three cities, and analysts said it would be important to watch whether the month-on-month stabilisation can be sustained. New home prices in first-tier cities were flat in February from January – Beijing and Shanghai each rose 0.2 per cent, Guangzhou was unchanged and Shenzhen slipped 0.3 per cent, according to... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346737/chinas-first-tier-home-prices-stabilise-february-after-9-months-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346737/chinas-first-tier-home-prices-stabilise-february-after-9-months-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:28:36 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways plans to hire 3,000 employees globally this year, including pilots and flight attendants, to support its growth plan, with the airline expressing strong confidence in its future expansion potential. The carrier launched its global recruitment drive in Beijing on Saturday as part of efforts to attract more talent from mainland China to support its future development plans, including promoting inbound tourism. Currently, the company has more than... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346613/beijing-first-stop-cathay-launches-global-drive-hire-3000-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346613/beijing-first-stop-cathay-launches-global-drive-hire-3000-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:52:05 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Aridge, the flying-car developer backed by Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, has raised nearly US$200 million in fresh funding as it prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong this year. Existing investors including GL Ventures, the venture capital arm of Hillhouse Investment, and HongShan – formerly Sequoia China – participated in the latest round, according to a statement released on Friday. The fundraising brings Aridge’s total equity financing to about US$1... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346597/flying-car-dreams-gain-altitude-xpeng-affiliate-aridge-raises-us200-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346597/flying-car-dreams-gain-altitude-xpeng-affiliate-aridge-raises-us200-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:43:40 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The United States’ decision to launch Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices by China and several other economies – which could allow Washington to reimpose higher tariffs – is a “bluff” designed to give US President Donald Trump some perceived leverage ahead of his expected trip to China, analysts said. But the threat is unlikely to work on Beijing, which has grown used to the president’s “art of the deal” tactics, they added. “Trump’s move before his China trip is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346365/trumps-tariff-investigation-bluff-will-not-work-china-analysts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346365/trumps-tariff-investigation-bluff-will-not-work-china-analysts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Logistics companies in China are feeling the strain from the US-Israeli war on Iran, as volatile crude prices and disrupted transport routes ripple through global supply chains. With e-commerce cargo stranded in the Middle East and freight rates skyrocketing, industry insiders said they expect the fallout to last months, even as US President Donald Trump signalled the war could end soon. While some saw opportunities in alternative Central Asian corridors, Chinese businesses reliant on the region... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346241/iran-war-hits-trade-hubs-chinas-logistics-firms-scramble-alternatives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346241/iran-war-hits-trade-hubs-chinas-logistics-firms-scramble-alternatives?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Artificial intelligence in 2026 is moving from a passive tool to an active partner. Big tech companies are throwing more money at capex to stand out in the AI race. Meanwhile, tech firms are raising funds to make technological breakthroughs and solidify their competitive edge.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3345673/hong-kong-can-do-more-connect-mainland-funds-tech-stocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3345673/hong-kong-can-do-more-connect-mainland-funds-tech-stocks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Singapore is the most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region to outfit an office, driven by increased labour costs, a shortage of contractors and strict building standards, according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank. The city had the highest average fit-out cost at US$2,029 per square metre – ahead of Tokyo (US$1,994) and Taipei (US$1,593) – in the firm’s survey of 23 cities across Australasia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and India. It was also the most expensive place to set up an... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345398/singapore-offices-cost-most-outfit-asia-pacific-survey-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345398/singapore-offices-cost-most-outfit-asia-pacific-survey-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:30:32 +0000 Fan Hou Fan Hou Twenty-one of China’s 31 provincial-level regions have set lower annual growth targets ahead of the unveiling of the national goal on March 5. Guangdong, the most populous region, cut its target for 2026 to a range of 4.5 per cent to 5 per cent, versus “around 5 per cent” last year. Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi are also among provinces with lower economic targets. Jiangxi is the only region with an increase. The national goal may be reduced to 4.5 per cent to 5 per cent from “around 5 per cent”,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3344825/chinese-regions-cut-growth-targets-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3344825/chinese-regions-cut-growth-targets-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:50:43 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu On-demand helicopter services gained momentum during the Chinese New Year amid a travel rush, giving a boost to the country’s low-altitude economy. Demand increased significantly during the hectic holiday period, with overall bookings rising nearly 1.5 times compared with normal levels, said Li Xin, a manager at Shanghai Xinkong Helicopter, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV). Capitalising on the rush, the operator launched a new route on Monday linking Shanghai with Haimen and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344484/helicopter-travel-takes-china-during-spring-festival-rush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344484/helicopter-travel-takes-china-during-spring-festival-rush?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang In the cutthroat world of Chinese civil service exams, the most dangerous opponent is not necessarily the person in the next seat: it is the “ghost” candidate designed to scare you away before you even show up. A bizarre case of inflating applicant numbers to deter potential candidates has become a national talking point, as tougher job prospects raise interest in civil service examinations on the mainland. First reported by state media in December, the case involved the illegal purchase of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344010/chinas-tight-economy-fake-exam-takers-scheme-has-touched-nerve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344010/chinas-tight-economy-fake-exam-takers-scheme-has-touched-nerve?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Some among hundreds of Guangdong motorists who have signed up for a southbound travel scheme have driven into Hong Kong’s urban areas during the Lunar New Year holiday for offbeat sightseeing and festive shopping. Authorities said bookings under the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles” scheme were “favourable”, with about 500 cars expected to enter the city in the early days of the holiday. Visitors were spotted in left-hand drive vehicles with FT-prefixed number plates. Among them were a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343960/how-guangdong-drivers-are-celebrating-lunar-new-year-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343960/how-guangdong-drivers-are-celebrating-lunar-new-year-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:00:01 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises strength, freedom and vitality. Yet as the Year of the Horse is celebrated with images of grace and power, real horses continue to suffer in industries that treat them as expendable. Near Egypt’s Great Pyramids, Peta investigators... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343894/we-celebrate-lunar-new-year-lets-ensure-we-do-better-horses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343894/we-celebrate-lunar-new-year-lets-ensure-we-do-better-horses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:30:11 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee A surge in South Korean visitors wanting to play golf in Guangzhou, fuelled by China’s visa-free travel policy and the city’s warm climate, is keeping Quan Yulan busier than ever at the travel agency where she has worked for 12 years. Compared with 2023, when international travel began recovering after the coronavirus pandemic, Korean bookings surged by more than 300 per cent last year, said Quan, who is of Korean descent, adding that the Guangzhou-based agency expected even stronger growth this... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343744/how-did-chinas-guangzhou-tee-surge-south-korean-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343744/how-did-chinas-guangzhou-tee-surge-south-korean-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is gearing up to harness the extended Lunar New Year holiday to attract more spending by international tourists, as the country looks to shake off a recent economic slowdown and pivot towards consumption-driven growth. In a rare joint initiative by nine central government departments, Beijing announced plans earlier this month to turn the holiday – which this year began on Sunday and runs through February 23 – into a “consumption feast that links regions and engages everyone”. The move... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343743/china-targets-foreign-tourists-lunar-new-year-consumption-feast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343743/china-targets-foreign-tourists-lunar-new-year-consumption-feast?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:00:10 +0000