https://www.scmp.com/rss/330953/feed Tom is a motion graphic designer at Inkstone. He specializes in telling stories through motion graphics using 2D and 3D techniques. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world where bamboo is still widely used for scaffolding in construction. It’s flexible, strong and cheaper than steel and aluminium — metal alternatives that are now more commonly used in mainland China and elsewhere in Asia. In Hong Kong, skilled armies of scaffolders can erect enough bamboo to engulf a building in a day — even hours — using techniques that are thousands of years old, and have been passed down through generations. How long has bamboo... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3191778/why-hong-kong-still-uses-bamboo-scaffolding-construction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3191778/why-hong-kong-still-uses-bamboo-scaffolding-construction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Sep 2022 01:00:32 +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 Scientists around the world are trying to trace the origin of the coronavirus, an effort that could help us get ahead of the next pandemic. In the video above, Inkstone speaks with infectious disease experts to find out what we know about how the devastating virus came into being and what we don’t know. The following is a lightly edited transcript of the video. The new coronavirus is thought to have originated in bats, and the initial outbreak has been linked to a live animal market in China.... https://www.scmp.com/science/bats-wet-market-and-many-theories-what-we-know-about-origin-coronavirus/article/3082414?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/science/bats-wet-market-and-many-theories-what-we-know-about-origin-coronavirus/article/3082414?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2020 10:16:22 +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 It is the 2020 Lunar New Year holiday, and 11-year-old Xiaoxiao and her little brother are at home with their grandparents in a remote part of central China. They are anxiously waiting for the Spring Festival reunion dinner when their parents return from their jobs in southern Guangdong province. Like hundreds of millions of rural migrant workers in China, Chen and Liu travel home only once a year. The travel rush over the holiday period, which lasts up to 40 days, is considered the largest... https://www.scmp.com/china/getting-home-lunar-new-year/article/3047201?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/getting-home-lunar-new-year/article/3047201?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:24:41 +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 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 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 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 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 Protests against a now-suspended extradition bill in Hong Kong have brought hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets over the past two weeks.  Inkstone has previously explained how the demonstrators rest, eat and pee. And we’ve described how the largely leaderless crowd communicates and organizes. Now, we’d like to translate for you the memes that have been going viral. 1. Bulletproof boys This meme plays off the name of BTS, a mega boy-band from South Korea. It’s short for “bulletproof... https://www.scmp.com/politics/extradition-bill-protest-memes-going-viral-hong-kong/article/3016132?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/extradition-bill-protest-memes-going-viral-hong-kong/article/3016132?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:26:11 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/china/biggest-protest-hong-kong-history-two-legal-systems-clash/article/3013789?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china/biggest-protest-hong-kong-history-two-legal-systems-clash/article/3013789?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:05:28 +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 When imperial rule collapsed in China at the beginning of the 20th century, the emperor’s Forbidden City home was turned over to the public and transformed into the Palace Museum. Fierce fighting that rocked the country for years after the leadership change posed a grave threat to the palace treasures – considered one of the world’s greatest collections of art and artifacts. To protect them, the Palace Museum director decided to evacuate a large number of items and set them on a 14-year,... https://www.scmp.com/arts/how-forbidden-citys-treasures-survived-modern-chinas-bloody-beginning/article/3009136?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/arts/how-forbidden-citys-treasures-survived-modern-chinas-bloody-beginning/article/3009136?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2019 09:37:19 +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 An app that teaches users all about Chinese leader Xi Jinping has become China’s most popular app. The app, Xuexi Qiangguo, which translates as “study Xi Jinping to make the nation strong,” offers Communist Party propaganda in the form of articles, videos and quizzes. It’s the latest example of the Communist Party using tech to strengthen its ideological control in China. Users of the app can earn points by reading articles, watching videos and commenting. Many state-owned companies have... https://www.scmp.com/politics/communist-party-promotes-xi-jinping-ideology-xuexi-qiangguo/article/3000896?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/communist-party-promotes-xi-jinping-ideology-xuexi-qiangguo/article/3000896?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Feb 2019 10:59:03 +0000