https://www.scmp.com/rss/37/feed Travel and leisure news, including tours, guides and hotels. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com dpa dpa Florida’s Magic Kingdom was the most-visited theme park globally last year, according to the TEA Global Experience Index, an annual attendance report. The park – the original theme park at Walt Disney World, which now boasts four theme parks and two water parks – drew 17.8 million visitors last year, down 0.2 per cent from 2024, the report says. Disneyland Park in California ranked second with 17.4 million visitors in 2025, up 0.4 per cent from the previous year. Japanese parks Universal Studios... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3373736/how-do-chinese-theme-parks-and-museums-rank-global-visitor-standings https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3373736/how-do-chinese-theme-parks-and-museums-rank-global-visitor-standings Mon, 09 Nov 2026 08:15:11 +0000 Oliver Giles Oliver Giles Thanks to a wave of new galleries, exhibitions and initiatives, queer art is currently in the spotlight in Southeast Asia. While this partly reflects greater queer acceptance in the region – gay sex was decriminalised in Singapore in 2023 and same-sex marriage legalised in Thailand in 2025 – many of these openings are also the result of the determination of LGBTQ artists, collectors and curators to build their own platforms, rather than waiting for established institutions to make room for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3373501/5-spaces-making-waves-queer-art-southeast-asia-singapore-bangkok https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3373501/5-spaces-making-waves-queer-art-southeast-asia-singapore-bangkok Sun, 08 Nov 2026 10:15:06 +0000 Jing Zhang Jing Zhang For a few years starting in 2021, I split my life between London and Porto. I never quite stopped feeling I had got away with something. Here was a city with sea, sun, serious cultural credentials, excellent food and an Atlantic breeze that could clear a dreary London week from your head. It was the perfect panacea for hectic urban living. Portugal’s second city is hardly a discovery. Its historic centre has been Unesco-listed since 1996 and its commercial fortunes were built on a wine trade... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3372943/porto-travel-guide-best-things-do-portugals-second-city https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3372943/porto-travel-guide-best-things-do-portugals-second-city Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:15:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings When the travel agency China Highlights organises bus trips for foreign tourists to iconic sights across China, the company says one last-minute request keeps cropping up again and again. “Can we visit a farm?” The question has become so common that guides now organise farm tours lasting a day or two for groups as they drive back from scenic spots such as Huangshan and Zhangjiajie, according to company CEO Steven Zhao. The tourists often wanted to meet the farmers, have lunch in their... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372763/how-chinas-enchanting-farms-became-draw-foreign-tourists https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3372763/how-chinas-enchanting-farms-became-draw-foreign-tourists Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Madrid may be known as a city destination, but beyond its immediate hub there is much to embrace, taste and live. Europe’s beating heart deserves its unspoken, vibrant pulse to be felt, and its rhythm to course through the soul. For the discerning global traveller, Madrid unfolds, layer upon layer, to reveal a choreography of culture, heritage and modern indulgence. Time must be spent here to explore, discover,... https://www.scmp.com/presented/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/discover-madrids-beating-heart/article/3372548/uncovering-madrid-discover-beat-destination-extends-well-beyond-city-centre https://www.scmp.com/presented/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/discover-madrids-beating-heart/article/3372548/uncovering-madrid-discover-beat-destination-extends-well-beyond-city-centre Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:15:11 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Malaysia Airlines is now offering passengers expanded connections around the world and a premium travel experience that has helped the national carrier climb the ranks of the industry’s elite. Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, president and group CEO of parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), says the aim is simple: to meet the needs of today’s travellers. “We are continuing to grow with purpose, strengthening our... https://www.scmp.com/presented/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/time-malaysia-airlines/article/3371617/malaysia-airlines-offers-more-routes-warmer-service-and-journeys-worth-remembering https://www.scmp.com/presented/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/time-malaysia-airlines/article/3371617/malaysia-airlines-offers-more-routes-warmer-service-and-journeys-worth-remembering Wed, 28 Oct 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Xiong Yang Xiong Yang Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan province and the gateway to its culture. Its markets bring together freshly cut flowers, foraged mushrooms and cured mountain hams from villages and farming towns. Its restaurants serve delicacies from around the region. The expansive Lake Dianchi and the steep Western Hills offer a reminder of the landscape that has shaped Yunnan’s people and food culture. Here is how to spend a weekend in China’s “City of Eternal Spring”. Friday 4pm: Feast your eyes on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3372157/best-things-do-kunming-gateway-chinas-yunnan-province-full-local-flavour https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3372157/best-things-do-kunming-gateway-chinas-yunnan-province-full-local-flavour Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:45:10 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam There are plenty of ways to travel in luxury by sea. A cruise liner cares for every practical detail, but its scale means strict schedules, crowds and little room for unique experiences. A private yacht charter, by contrast, can feel thrillingly free and discreet, but usually comes with eye-watering costs, logistical difficulties and a relative lack of fancy facilities like spa treatments and on-board entertainment. The latest launches and expansions from respected names in hospitality occupy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371636/luxury-hotels-hit-high-seas-ritz-carlton-four-seasons-and-aman-leading-way https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371636/luxury-hotels-hit-high-seas-ritz-carlton-four-seasons-and-aman-leading-way Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Kevin Kwong Kevin Kwong Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s newest hotel, REM, opened this week to complete the ultra-luxury trio at the City of Dreams in Macau. Rebranded from the Countdown Hotel, which was the Hard Rock Hotel before that, the property sits alongside the Zaha Hadid-designed Morpheus and Asian-inspired Nuwa, positioning itself as the most exclusive of the three. REM stands for rapid eye movement, the phase of sleep during which “we have the most vivid dreams”, said Lawrence Ho Yau-lung, chairman and CEO of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371854/inside-red-hot-rem-hotel-macau-think-revolving-beds-and-dreamlike-suites https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371854/inside-red-hot-rem-hotel-macau-think-revolving-beds-and-dreamlike-suites Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:15:05 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Lee Hae-rin For American Kylie Genter, a day at the beach is no longer a day off for sunbathing and swimming. Instead, it is a place where she prays for her safety before diving into the waters to gather abalone and shellfish for a living. What others see as a holiday destination has become, to her, a workplace and a landscape of possibilities. Since she began diving as a haenyeo – female divers who harvest seafood by hand – in January 2024, the work has changed how she sees the sea. Finding... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371743/new-york-jeju-island-american-joins-south-koreas-famed-female-free-divers https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371743/new-york-jeju-island-american-joins-south-koreas-famed-female-free-divers Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:15:06 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. This ancient Chinese warrior queen led huge armies and stole a king’s heart Fu Hao is one of the earliest documented female military generals in history, yet relatively little is known about her. Most of the information gathered about her life is from her tomb. 2. How to prevent osteoporosis, from training to eating... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371716/ancient-chinese-warrior-queen-how-prevent-osteoporosis-7-lifestyle-highlights https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371716/ancient-chinese-warrior-queen-how-prevent-osteoporosis-7-lifestyle-highlights Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:15:06 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava Growing up, Thai artist Nawin Nuthong loved playing video games, especially Civilization, where players can create empires as historical leaders. Drawn to playing as King Ramkhamhaeng, who ruled the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279 to 1298 in what is now Thailand, Nawin soon became interested in how history is constructed. The 33-year-old now combines his twin passions for history and video games through his multimedia practice, which examines how new technology shapes and advances societies. His... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371454/thai-artist-blends-history-and-gaming-installation-puts-visitors-control https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371454/thai-artist-blends-history-and-gaming-installation-puts-visitors-control Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:45:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Central Asia is becoming a travel hotspot thanks to its countries’ visa-free entry and improved transport connectivity, and a growing demand among travellers for crowd-free destinations. The region is surrounded by online buzz, but is it just another internet fad? We went to Uzbekistan – said to be Central Asia’s “cultural crown jewel” – to find out. From Hong Kong, we board a flight to Shanghai before connecting to Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. The journey takes 15 hours in total. Direct flights... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371373/must-visit-places-uzbekistan-central-asias-cultural-crown-jewel-old-silk-road https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371373/must-visit-places-uzbekistan-central-asias-cultural-crown-jewel-old-silk-road Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship will sail out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by the end of 2027, the company recently announced. The Disney Believe, the cruise line’s fourth Wish-class ship, will make its maiden voyage on December 18, 2027, to sail four- and five-night itineraries to destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean. General on-sale bookings start today. During the theatrical announcement live-streamed from another cruise ship – the Disney Wish – on October 7, the Believe’s on-board... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371146/what-know-about-disney-believe-disneys-newest-cruise-ship https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371146/what-know-about-disney-believe-disneys-newest-cruise-ship Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak For decades, Colombo has been treated less as a cultural destination and more as a quick stopover between the Sri Lankan capital’s airport and the country’s more popular southern coast, where tourists flock to five-star resorts, beachside bars and premier surfing spots. That is beginning to change. As Sri Lanka continues to recover from a 26-year civil war (1983-2009) and the fallout from a recent economic crisis (2019-2024), there is new life in Colombo’s culinary and hospitality... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371105/how-new-generation-sri-lankans-reshaping-colombos-restaurant-and-bar-scene https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3371105/how-new-generation-sri-lankans-reshaping-colombos-restaurant-and-bar-scene Mon, 19 Oct 2026 04:46:06 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Contemporary photography museum Fotografiska’s newest outpost in Shenzhen is strikingly different from its original venue in Stockholm, Sweden – in the former customs building on the Stadsgardshamnen waterfront – or its Shanghai location, which opened in 2023 inside the Guang San Warehouse. In Shenzhen, a technological metropolis where sleek high-rises and futuristic cultural venues continue to emerge, the museum integrates into the modern urban landscape with a crisp white rectangular facade... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371088/hong-kong-would-be-impossible-why-newest-fotografiska-photo-museum-shenzhen https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371088/hong-kong-would-be-impossible-why-newest-fotografiska-photo-museum-shenzhen Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When Ria Xi set off on her 20,000km (12,400-mile) endurance challenge, she had no idea what the impact on her body would be. But she was curious to find out. The Beijing-born former tech executive who used AI to develop running training plans has now developed a daily test to track her biometric data alongside memory, motivation and energy levels as she runs across Eurasia. The extraordinary journey, which began on May 1, 2026, from Vladivostok, Russia, will see Xi run the ancient Silk Road... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Payal Uttam Payal Uttam At the 2026 Jakarta Biennale, visitors can plant cassava in moist soil. An evocative soundscape, including the calls of threatened birds-of-paradise, fills the air. Paintings made with natural pigments on tree bark hang on the walls. The installation by Papua-based artist collective Alyakha Kolektif draws attention to illegal gold mining and excessive logging that are damaging the environment in Indonesia’s Sentani region. The cassava planting, which continues until late October, is intended as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371089/gritty-jakarta-biennale-polished-art-jakarta-both-tell-indonesias-story-haze-and-all https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3371089/gritty-jakarta-biennale-polished-art-jakarta-both-tell-indonesias-story-haze-and-all Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam London-based private members’ wine club 67 Pall Mall is scheduled to open its first mainland China outpost in early 2027, in Shanghai’s former French Concession. Founder Grant Ashton says the move reflects a global shift away from spirits – which can reach 40 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) – towards wine, typically 12 to 14 per cent ABV. “Wine is halfway down to zero,” he says, mapping out the spectrum from spirits to non-alcoholic drinks. “If you’re starting from spirits, wine is your sweet... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3370531/london-wine-clubs-shanghai-outpost-offer-chinese-drinkers-sweet-spot https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3370531/london-wine-clubs-shanghai-outpost-offer-chinese-drinkers-sweet-spot Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service By Alan Behr Wilson Fernandes takes every tight turn, steep plunge and narrow miss of parked cars like the pro that he is, driving me in his Land Rover through the back roads of the island of Madeira. We are in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, 500 miles to 600 miles (800km to 1,000km) southwest of the Portuguese mainland, but the hill-studded landscape, challenging roads and the rotating patches of functional housing, opulent villas and open terrain remind me of Saint Barthelemy, far to our west, in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3370333/writers-birthday-escape-madeira-blends-island-adventure-lot-pampering https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3370333/writers-birthday-escape-madeira-blends-island-adventure-lot-pampering Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani In a city known for hype-filled events, from the Oscars and Grammys to countless Hollywood premieres, the recent opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles occupied its own stratosphere, drawing a constellation of celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams. Many of the names at the museum’s September 19 grand opening were there to wish founder George Lucas, creator of the sprawling Star Wars franchise, and his wife, Mellody Hobson,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3370324/its-chinese-architect-manga-how-asian-influences-abound-los-angeles-lucas-museum https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3370324/its-chinese-architect-manga-how-asian-influences-abound-los-angeles-lucas-museum Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:45:47 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun “At the moment, it’s about 23 degrees Celsius [73 degrees Fahrenheit],” says new hotelier Cheryl Kwok, looking out of her window on a recent overcast afternoon. “The rainy season is just about to start, so we’ve got a little drizzle. At night, it might drop to 14 or 16 degrees.” It may come as a surprise that Kwok, a native Singaporean and former Hong Kong resident, is based in Bali. The island is not exactly known for sweater weather or heated swimming pools, but that is precisely what she... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3369783/bali-or-europe-retired-hong-kong-couple-builds-alpine-retreat-mountains https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3369783/bali-or-europe-retired-hong-kong-couple-builds-alpine-retreat-mountains Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service There is a cross on the roof, stained glass windows and a choir loft upstairs, but this whitewashed three-level building near Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, is no longer a house of worship. It is the Hotel Lucile, a 25-room boutique lodging that opened in September 2026 with a restaurant and bar in the high-ceilinged sanctuary where church-goers once gathered. This opening follows more than a decade of controversy and transformation, including a community debate, bankruptcy and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3369740/how-los-angeles-church-was-reborn-hotel-and-why-more-could-follow https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3369740/how-los-angeles-church-was-reborn-hotel-and-why-more-could-follow Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A banknote clasped between her hands, Liu Haiyan prays to the protector of the Wudang Mountains. The range in central China’s Hubei province has long been considered sacred in Taoism. “I asked him to bless our motherland with favourable weather and to make it even more prosperous,” Liu says while sitting outside the Golden Hall, a Taoist temple at the summit of Tianzhu Peak. “This place watches over our country,” she adds. “We’re Chinese, and this is part of our faith.” Tourists and pilgrims in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369441/how-chinas-wudang-mountains-draw-droves-visitors-search-spiritual-cleansing https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369441/how-chinas-wudang-mountains-draw-droves-visitors-search-spiritual-cleansing Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] The Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is often viewed simply as a gateway to the rest of Asia, but it is a destination worth lingering in. In just 48 hours, visitors can explore a 400-million-year-old cave temple complex, stroll through a rainforest canopy in the heart of the city, sample some of Southeast Asia’s most diverse street food and enjoy afternoon tea overlooking one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. As the... https://www.scmp.com/presented/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/time-malaysia-airlines/article/3369053/48-hours-make-most-kuala-lumpurs-unique-mix-heritage-modernity-and-nature https://www.scmp.com/presented/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/time-malaysia-airlines/article/3369053/48-hours-make-most-kuala-lumpurs-unique-mix-heritage-modernity-and-nature Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Thirty years ago, Japanese video game designer Satoshi Tajiri combined round Gashapon capsules from coin-operated toy vending machines with his childhood bug-collecting hobby to create a virtual world where players could explore, catch and trade creatures with special abilities. When he released Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green for the Game Boy handheld game console in February 1996, a global phenomenon was born. Today, the franchise, which officially rebranded as Pokemon in 1998... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368998/7-pokemon-experiences-tokyo-celebrate-30-years-pikachu-and-co https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368998/7-pokemon-experiences-tokyo-celebrate-30-years-pikachu-and-co Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg When Japan shut its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic, expats and long-time friends Hillary Hewins and Blake Piper started spending their weekends in Atami, a small seaside city just a 40-minute bullet train ride from their adopted home of Tokyo. Known during the 17th and 18th centuries for its soothing hot springs, Atami steadily surged in popularity during the four decades after World War II as a destination for Japanese holidaymakers. Sprawling concrete resorts opened, and the city centre... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368990/japans-showa-retro-aesthetic-enjoys-revival-tourists-start-look-beyond-temples https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368990/japans-showa-retro-aesthetic-enjoys-revival-tourists-start-look-beyond-temples Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:46:10 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Out of the backstage shadows, an onnagata – the traditional female role in the Japanese traditional theatre art of kabuki – steals into the light. Her hair is swept high into a voluminous bun, framing a face veiled in a thin layer of porcelain-white powder. Touches of cherry blossom flush across her eyelids and lips. She glides across the starkly lit stage so weightlessly that her steps leave silence behind. With precision, she turns, twirls and looks into the distance, face perfectly... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368742/how-one-woman-rewriting-kabukis-all-male-narrative-japan https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368742/how-one-woman-rewriting-kabukis-all-male-narrative-japan Sat, 26 Sep 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service George Lucas and Mellody Hobson want their massive spaceship of a museum to be an experience. Across 300,000 sq ft (27,000 sq metres) and 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of park space, there is a lot to take in. Staring up at the 90-foot (27.4 metre) oculus four storeys above the entrance plaza makes one feel like a speck in the galaxy. Instead of trying to conquer everything at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the first visit – there are more than 1,300 works – maybe focus on some of the highlights... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367839/7-best-attractions-lucas-museum-narrative-art-star-wars-banksy https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367839/7-best-attractions-lucas-museum-narrative-art-star-wars-banksy Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:45:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Uzbekistan, with its rich history of ancient Silk Road craftsmanship and later influences from Imperial Russia to the Soviets, is a country shaped by layers of conquest, trade and intellectual exchange. At the Uzbek capital’s new Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA), the inaugural exhibition – titled “Hikmah” and featuring sculptures and installations by 10 artists from around the world, including Palestine and the United States – sets out to explore the complexity of that cultural... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England has gone on public display at the British Museum in London this month, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets have sold out months in advance, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the UK will... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367798/tapestry-depicting-english-historys-most-important-event-back-uk-after-1000-years https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367798/tapestry-depicting-english-historys-most-important-event-back-uk-after-1000-years Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press In an episode of his new CNN travel series, chef David Chang is driving down the highway to Las Vegas before stopping at a transport cafe off Interstate 15. The town is Hesperia, California, and the producers wanted Chang to try an Indian restaurant near a windscreen repair store. But Chang spots a Mexican cantina that looks promising. He chooses to eat at both, freaking out his camera crew. “I just wanted to taste things. When I see something, I’m like, ‘Oh, that looks interesting. I would like... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367989/momofukus-david-chang-takes-detours-culinary-road-trip-across-us https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367989/momofukus-david-chang-takes-detours-culinary-road-trip-across-us Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:15:04 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo Hong Kong’s five-star hotels can come across as intimidating, with more conservative properties wanting to shield their well-heeled visitors with ornate decor, black-uniformed staff and chintz seat cushions that ask: “Are you worthy?” For Dirk Dalichau, general manager of Mondrian Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, a hotel’s message should be welcoming – not only for guests but the wider community in the city. “I have been involved in so many projects that changed the hospitality landscape,” says the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367017/real-experiences-mondrian-hong-kong-general-manager-why-community-matters https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367017/real-experiences-mondrian-hong-kong-general-manager-why-community-matters Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Tom Cruise tearing through the Old Town alleyway Zelezna towards the Estates Theatre; Mozart conducting an opera – these are just a couple of scenes from the many classic films shot in Prague, in the Czech Republic. Beyond the Cruise spy thriller Mission: Impossible (1996) and Amadeus (1984), winner of eight Oscars, recent films include Blade Runner 2099 and A Place Called Home. Then there are the television shows, says Hedvika Petrzelkova, a public relations officer at the Czech Film... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367393/9-movie-locations-prague-you-may-recognise-xxx-van-helsing-and-amadeus https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367393/9-movie-locations-prague-you-may-recognise-xxx-van-helsing-and-amadeus Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:15:04 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Christophe Leribault, president of the Louvre Museum, is encouraging Asian art lovers to help fund a more than €1 billion (US$1.2 billion) architectural overhaul aimed at easing overcrowding and transforming the visitor experience at the Paris landmark. Leribault arrived in Hong Kong on September 9, fresh from opening a Renaissance exhibition in Tokyo that featured Leonardo da Vinci’s rarely loaned La Belle Ferronniere (circa 1490). Speaking at the French consulate in Hong Kong, he outlined his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3367141/why-frances-louvre-museum-looking-east-help-fund-its-eu1-billion-transformation https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3367141/why-frances-louvre-museum-looking-east-help-fund-its-eu1-billion-transformation Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Jakki Phillips Jakki Phillips Imagine a classic Chinese landscape of bamboo forest, rice paddies and lotus-filled waterways, dotted with villages that seem untouched by time. Now add to that scene hundreds of castle-like watchtowers, their turrets rising unexpectedly against the skyline. This is Kaiping in Guangdong province, just a couple of hours from Hong Kong by direct high-speed train from West Kowloon Station. It is one of mainland China’s lesser-known Unesco World Heritage sites and home to more than 1,800 distinctive... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366303/why-chinas-unesco-listed-kaiping-watchtowers-are-best-discovered-two-wheels https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366303/why-chinas-unesco-listed-kaiping-watchtowers-are-best-discovered-two-wheels Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:15:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam The world of high-end luxury is witnessing a global boom in branded residences, with heritage fashion houses partnering with property developers to build immersive homes in prime locations. Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of Italian luxury fashion and lifestyle brand Etro, has identified the “home” category as a primary engine for growth – and a return to the company’s roots. Its portfolio includes Etro Residences Istanbul and Etro Residences Phuket, which are scheduled for completion in late 2026 and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366188/how-fashion-houses-are-building-branded-residences-demand-ultimate-luxury-booms https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366188/how-fashion-houses-are-building-branded-residences-demand-ultimate-luxury-booms Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:15:05 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Politics has had a habit of barging into art biennales of late, from the current Gwangju Biennale in South Korea to the Venice Biennale earlier this year. However, at the Busan Biennale, political noise is not an unfortunate sideshow: it is the whole curatorial premise. The curators, Bahraini-Singaporean artist Amal Khalaf and Brussels-based writer Evelyn Simons, have called their edition of South Korea’s oldest biennale, “Dissident Chorus”. The biennale seeks to move away from “the ruins of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3366251/not-so-dissident-chorus-busan-biennale-2026-makes-some-political-noise https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3366251/not-so-dissident-chorus-busan-biennale-2026-makes-some-political-noise Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Geopolitical volatility and uncertainty have become an all-too-common part of life. The world is experiencing more active wars than at any point since World War II, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Perhaps the most high-profile conflict this year has been the US-Israel attack on Iran, but it is hardly the only example of the violence and disruption affecting people and locations around the world. One in seven people globally is living with the threat of armed conflict,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365468/how-tourists-are-reacting-war-fuel-prices-and-geopolitical-strife-2026 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365468/how-tourists-are-reacting-war-fuel-prices-and-geopolitical-strife-2026 Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Seoul is one of the most populous cities in the world, home to some 10 million people in the centre plus 25 million in the wider metropolitan area. And yet Seoul is not a city that overwhelms visitors. If you are looking for a diverse travel destination in Asia, the South Korean capital is the perfect spot. The city is well-organised and easy to navigate, nestled among mountains and steeped in history – a history found not only in museums but out on the streets, on city walls and in palace... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365790/5-days-seoul-best-things-do-palaces-and-museums-dmz https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365790/5-days-seoul-best-things-do-palaces-and-museums-dmz Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:45:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Billed as Paris’ first boutique devoted entirely to butter, Le Butter Shop opened last month a short walk from the Eiffel Tower – with 30 varieties from small family producers in Brittany, the Loire Valley and northern France. France eats around 8kg (17.6 pounds) of butter per person a year, according to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food. It is among the highest in the world. Yet the obesity rate is well below the average for wealthy nations – 14 per cent, compared to an average of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365578/butter-believe-it-first-paris-boutique-devoted-frances-favourite-fat-opens https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365578/butter-believe-it-first-paris-boutique-devoted-frances-favourite-fat-opens Sun, 30 Aug 2026 08:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Guests arriving at the Potato Hotel in northern Germany are greeted by a schnapps served in potatoes-turned-tumblers. After taking a bite from the canapés – potato zucchini rolls and sweet potato pie – it should be clear that potatoes rule all at this cosy refurbished farm to the southeast of Hamburg. While waiting for the room key – adorned with a stone potato – visitors can purchase sacks of freshly harvested potatoes at reception. The rooms, some of which used to be cattle pens, are named... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365548/spud-tacular-hotel-celebrates-potatoes-food-facials-and-farming https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365548/spud-tacular-hotel-celebrates-potatoes-food-facials-and-farming Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa A new documentary that delves into filmmakers and their associated theme park projects is streaming now on Disney+. Disney Worldbuilders uses interviews and file footage to go behind the scenes and into the childhoods of a set of storytellers. The 60-minute film, directed by Leslie Iwerks, starts with former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger strolling up Main Street at the original Disneyland in California, and wraps up with Iger on the beach in Abu Dhabi, the site of the company’s next major... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3365189/disney-worldbuilders-documentary-captures-magic-turning-films-theme-park-lands https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3365189/disney-worldbuilders-documentary-captures-magic-turning-films-theme-park-lands Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Fewer people, cheaper prices, milder weather – the last quarter of the year can offer a lot for travellers. Much of Europe, for example, is arguably better in September and October than the height of summer. Meanwhile, a lot of the northern hemisphere enjoys vibrant autumn colours, and mountainous regions can offer a real escape from crowds in the off-season. Here, travel experts share their recommendations. 1. Japan Travellers have long flocked to Japan in spring to witness the magic of cherry... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364819/6-best-places-visit-during-shoulder-season-japan-austria-and-nepal https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364819/6-best-places-visit-during-shoulder-season-japan-austria-and-nepal Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo My disdain for Venice has been the subject of lively conversations with friends and family. Yes, its picturesque bridges over canals that criss-cross the town are romantic. Yes, it is the birthplace of the modern printing press and a historic melting pot of cultures influenced by significant trade routes. But stopping in Venice also means fighting crowds from cruise ships, paying daily entry fees to breathe its decadence and facing hugely inflated prices for subpar meals. Instead, Padua is less... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364627/art-saints-galileo-italys-padua-30-minutes-venice-offers-quiet-alternative https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364627/art-saints-galileo-italys-padua-30-minutes-venice-offers-quiet-alternative Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:21:16 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Could merely glimpsing a 357-year-old Buddhist manuscript really grant you seven lifetimes of good fortune? An old Chinese folk belief regarding the Tibetan Dragon Canon has recently been revived on social media as the monumental Qing dynasty (1644-1911) scripture takes pride of place in “Tibetan Dragon Canon: A Symphony of Imperial Power, Belief and Art in a Golden Age”, an exhibition at Taipei’s National Palace Museum. While it is impossible to trace the origin of the qishi fubao – good karma... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3364369/357-year-old-buddhist-text-taiwan-said-bring-lifetimes-luck-one-glimpse https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3364369/357-year-old-buddhist-text-taiwan-said-bring-lifetimes-luck-one-glimpse Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Reuters Agence France-Presse,Reuters Standing on the ferry as it waits to dock on the Greek island of Ithaca, Giorgia Ongarato is only too keen to talk about the Odyssey – the epic poem about a hero battling his way back home from the Trojan War that inspired Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film. The Italian lawyer says it was her dream to come to Ithaca, widely believed to be the same island as the home of Odysseus in the poem. Dressed in a T-shirt emblazoned with “odyssey” in ancient Greek alongside a line from the poem, she... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364060/are-these-odyssey-islands-prepared-tourist-surge-wake-new-film https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364060/are-these-odyssey-islands-prepared-tourist-surge-wake-new-film Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The first night in a new place is always the same for Robinson Leoni: he takes longer to fall asleep, wakes up more often during the night and gets less sleep overall. At home he averages seven hours. The first night away – with or without earplugs and regardless of the bed’s quality – his smartwatch tells him he gets about five. “I feel normal, you know, no stress, nothing, but it’s just I notice I wake up continuously,” Leoni says. He is a sales director for a tech company and travels once or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364050/why-first-night-hotel-affects-your-sleep-quality-and-how-improve-it https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364050/why-first-night-hotel-affects-your-sleep-quality-and-how-improve-it Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Stepping into the Old Town of Lijiang, a city in China’s Yunnan province, feels like entering the set of a Chinese period drama. Passing timber homes dotted with red lanterns, you walk on slick, rain-polished cobblestones worn down by centuries of Himalayan traders’ footsteps. The 800-year-old network of timber-framed architecture – often associated with Naxi ethnic minority culture – and the town’s alpine canal system earned Unesco World Heritage status in 1997 for exceptional preservation of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3363770/what-dongba-script-only-hieroglyphic-system-still-used-today-found-china https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3363770/what-dongba-script-only-hieroglyphic-system-still-used-today-found-china Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Stephen McCarty Stephen McCarty “If you go down to the Sichuan woods, you’re sure of a big surprise…” No, it is not a new species, exactly; but you might chance upon a famous British TV presenter seemingly cosplaying – as a giant panda. This unsettling mise-en-scène occurs during Ben Fogle’s Chinese Adventure, available on Now TV, at the Shenshuping Panda Base, a remote, government-run wildlife unit in Wolong, Sichuan province, where pandas are born and raised before being released to repopulate the mountains. Trouble is, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363248/why-ben-fogle-thinks-he-discovered-real-china-new-tv-series https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363248/why-ben-fogle-thinks-he-discovered-real-china-new-tv-series Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:15:06 +0000