https://www.scmp.com/rss/508148/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Yating Yang Yating Yang An online industry has emerged which allows people to create “wealthy” personal profiles on social media in China by buying “luxury lifestyle” photographs for as little as one yuan (15 US cents). The pictures feature travel scenery, gourmet dining, golfing, skiing and other activities on e-commerce platforms. The photographs are typically priced between one and eight yuan and are marketed as ready-made content for social media posts or for building a curated online persona. They are usually... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350006/chinese-create-wealthy-online-personas-buying-exotic-lifestyle-photos-warned-legal-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350006/chinese-create-wealthy-online-personas-buying-exotic-lifestyle-photos-warned-legal-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Mainland social media was engulfed by sorrow following the passing of Zhang Xuefeng, an esteemed education guru with over 30 million followers, in late March. Meanwhile, another influential figure was capturing attention online. ZXMOTO founder Zhang Xue had just achieved a remarkable victory for his motorcycle brand on the world stage. Though these two self-made icons treaded vastly different paths, they simultaneously resonated with the public mood. Their stories reveal a deeper unease in China... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349856/bikes-books-and-ambitions-how-zhang-xue-and-zhang-xuefeng-inspire-generation-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349856/bikes-books-and-ambitions-how-zhang-xue-and-zhang-xuefeng-inspire-generation-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Malicious and hateful online attacks on China’s diving queen Quan Hongchan, including one which likened her to a “pig”, will form part of a major investigation into an organised cyberbullying campaign against the Olympic athlete. Other hurtful attacks said the gold medal winner “looks like a man” and even questioned her right to be a champion, saying she only won because “the judges were biased”. Another online bully said Quan looked “countrified” while others called on her to “retire... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349529/china-authorities-probe-national-level-bullying-diving-icon-quan-hongchan-amid-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349529/china-authorities-probe-national-level-bullying-diving-icon-quan-hongchan-amid-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The founder of the Chinese motorcycle brand ZXMOTO, Zhang Xue, has stoked controversy after saying his company did not take “a single cent” from the government. His comments sparked accusations that Chongqing municipality in southwestern China where ZXMOTO is based, “does not support local business” and “has no eye for good stuff”. ZXMOTO took social media by storm last week, after French rider Valentin Debise won two races in the WorldSSP class of the Superbike World Championship on its... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349357/china-zxmoto-founder-revokes-not-getting-cent-government-remark-after-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349357/china-zxmoto-founder-revokes-not-getting-cent-government-remark-after-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Taoist priest in China, dressed in a traditional Taoist robe and holding a trifold mobile phone, recently garnered attention on social media, not only for his impressive academic background but also for his life advice resonating with the younger generation. Zhang Gaocheng, 74, serves as the deputy director of the Taoist Association of China, the highest-level semi-government organisation of the religion. He came into the spotlight after attending the Chinese People’s Political Consultative... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349242/tech-phd-china-taoist-priest-zhang-gaocheng-inspires-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3349242/tech-phd-china-taoist-priest-zhang-gaocheng-inspires-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 55-year-old Chinese medical aesthetics tycoon has shocked the internet by marrying her 25-year-old husband, reportedly with a 50 million yuan (US$7.3 million) dowry. Yu Wenhong, 55, was born into a financially modest family in Dalian, Liaoning province, in northeastern China. After her father died, she began working in the beauty industry at the age of 18 to support her mother and younger brother. She started as an eyebrow tattooing technician and later went on to establish her own beauty... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347823/rural-girl-tycoon-china-woman-55-marries-lover-25-us73-million-dowry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347823/rural-girl-tycoon-china-woman-55-marries-lover-25-us73-million-dowry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu An 84-year-old woman fell in love with an artificial-intelligence (AI) generated human, wrote ‘him’ love letters and spent 10 hours a day watching virtual human videos. Her story reflects the needs elderly people have for love and care. Zhang Yulan, from central China’s Hubei province, was discovered by her family to have been obsessed with a ‘bossy president’ generated by AI. The ‘bossy president’, or ba zong in Chinese, is a term used to describe a popular kind of male character in romantic... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347699/china-grandma-falls-love-bossy-president-writes-him-love-letters-buys-his-shop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347699/china-grandma-falls-love-bossy-president-writes-him-love-letters-buys-his-shop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese woman has amassed over one million followers after she posted her amazing sculptures crafted with nothing but her teeth. Chen Qin, 25, from central China’s Hubei province, attracted attention online after posting videos of her carrot sculptures. The sculptures, from simple small animals and cartoon figures, to complicated, large replicas of the Great Wall, the Yellow Crane Tower and wearables like phoenix crowns and the silver hats worn by the Miao people, are all made with Chen’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347991/chinese-woman-uses-teeth-carve-intricate-sculptures-including-great-wall-china-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347991/chinese-woman-uses-teeth-carve-intricate-sculptures-including-great-wall-china-model?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Top Chinese education influencer Zhang Xuefeng, who had over 30 million online followers, died on March 24 at the age of 41 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His studio announced the news in an obituary, while CCTV News reported that Zhang felt unwell after a run and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors were unable to revive him and ruled cardiac arrest was the cause of his death. Possible triggers include strenuous exercise after staying up late or sharp emotional swings. For years, Zhang... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347974/once-poor-village-boy-famous-china-educational-guru-zhang-xuefeng-dies-41-after-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347974/once-poor-village-boy-famous-china-educational-guru-zhang-xuefeng-dies-41-after-run?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:17 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A seven-year-old boy has become China’s youngest professional rally car driver after being certified at the age of five. Shao Ziyan, from Wenzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, has amazed mainland social media with his professionalism and passion for the sport despite his young age. According to his father, the boy became obsessed with car racing when he was a toddler. He began using a racing simulator at home when he was one. Noticing that his son had a “particularly great sense” for... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347811/boy-7-youngest-professional-rally-car-driver-china-starting-race-journey-age-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347811/boy-7-youngest-professional-rally-car-driver-china-starting-race-journey-age-1?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang From a former lecturer to the mastermind behind a lingerie empire, Zhang Rongming’s journey reshaped China’s intimate apparel industry with innovation and a keen eye for market trends. Zhang, 64, from Suzhou in Jiangsu province, eastern China, is the founder and chairman of Aimer, a leading lingerie brand. He excelled in metallurgy and chemistry during his university years, later pursuing graduate studies. In the late 1980s, while teaching at Shougang Institute of Technology in Beijing, he... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347174/ex-china-university-lecturer-sets-luxury-lingerie-brand-earning-us770-million-fortune?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347174/ex-china-university-lecturer-sets-luxury-lingerie-brand-earning-us770-million-fortune?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An American man who donated photographs of the Japanese invasion of China in World War II and received a national gift of porcelain from China has announced that he has settled in the country. On March 15, Evan Kail announced the news on social media, saying that he has chosen to live in Tianjin in the north of the country, according to a report by the Beijing News. Minnesota pawn shop owner Kail, 37, has enjoyed enormous popularity in China after he donated an album containing more than 30... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347035/us-man-offered-national-gift-settle-china-after-donating-historical-japan-invasion-photos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3347035/us-man-offered-national-gift-settle-china-after-donating-historical-japan-invasion-photos?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Famous Chinese actress Li Yitong, who rose from being Zhao Liying’s stunt double to becoming a leading actress, has taken on 14 roles in a single year, earning her the name of a “real-life Cinderella”. Li, whose original name is Li Xue, was born in September 1990 in Jinan, Shandong province, northern China, and graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy with a major in folk dance. After graduation, she planned to open a teahouse that incorporated dance performances. However, while searching for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346367/real-life-cinderella-china-stuntwoman-transitions-playing-body-double-stardom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346367/real-life-cinderella-china-stuntwoman-transitions-playing-body-double-stardom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Taiwanese singer has sparked controversy for performing a “vacuum belly” workout routine at a concert in northwestern China. Videos of Ella Chen Jiahua showing her contracted belly, with her ribs prominently protruding, at her concert in Xian, Shaanxi province on March 7 have gone viral on social media, China Youth Daily reported. Chen, 44, tells her audiences: “I would like to perform a stunt for you. Please look at me carefully. Cameramen, please zoom in on me.” She begins the movement while... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346329/taiwan-singer-ignites-debate-showing-popular-vacuum-belly-technique-lose-weight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346329/taiwan-singer-ignites-debate-showing-popular-vacuum-belly-technique-lose-weight?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang The sole female senior officer aboard China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has urged women to put aside their gender and focus on professionalism and responsibility. On March 7, during the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, a poised and confident female military deputy in uniform captured nationwide attention. Zhu Yuemeng, 36, from a modest family in Jilin province, northeastern China, is a naval lieutenant colonel and serves as a political instructor on board the Liaoning aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An Iraqi journalist, who is also an online celebrity in China and was once praised by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, has become engaged to a woman from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Ameen Muneer Mohammed Al-Obaidi, who is better known by his Chinese name, Fang Haoming, boasts about 5 million followers on social media. He works as a China correspondent for the Dubai-based China-Arab TV. Fang, 26, joined other foreign journalists to perform the popular Subject Three street dance at a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346237/iraqi-reporter-raised-china-famous-viral-dance-gets-engaged-xinjiang-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346237/iraqi-reporter-raised-china-famous-viral-dance-gets-engaged-xinjiang-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A boxing coach from Iran who worked in China for two years has quit his job and returned to his homeland to be with his family amid US-Israeli air strikes on the country. The trainer’s touching story was revealed by his boss on social media and attracted about one million likes, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported. The 33-year-old Iranian, identified only as Saeed, has worked at a boxing gym in Xiangxi prefecture in Hunan, central China, since 2024. The gym’s owner Huang Zhaoxin met Saeed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346199/iranian-boxing-coach-leaves-secure-china-job-returns-home-be-family-despite-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346199/iranian-boxing-coach-leaves-secure-china-job-returns-home-be-family-despite-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang From speaking Chinese to filming square dancing in a park, Hollywood’s golden boy Timothée Chalamet gave his fans a lot to talk about during his trip to China. The 30-year-old American-French actor, affectionately called tian cha, “Sweet Tea”, by his Chinese fans due to the phonetic similarity to his name, is considered a front runner to win an Oscar. His recent trip to China is to promote Marty Supreme, a film about a shoe salesman who risks everything to pursue his dream of becoming a world... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346337/timothee-chalamet-charms-fans-embracing-chinese-culture-selling-tofu-playing-table-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346337/timothee-chalamet-charms-fans-embracing-chinese-culture-selling-tofu-playing-table-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A school dropout from eastern China who survived a violent attack and bankruptcy has built a steamed bun empire that generates 180 million yuan (US$26 million) annually. Liu Huiping, 49, hails from Anhui province, famously known as China’s “hometown of dough makers.” To ease the financial burden on his parents, Liu left secondary school early. He initially learned furniture making before shifting his focus to the craft of Chinese buns. In 1998, with a 4,000-yuan (US$580) loan, Liu ventured to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346323/net-worth-us580-us580-million-china-school-dropout-builds-steamed-bun-empire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346323/net-worth-us580-us580-million-china-school-dropout-builds-steamed-bun-empire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:11:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Over two decades in a little-known, freezing city in northern China, a Swedish man has built a career and witnessed the booming development of the country’s carmaking industry. Gustav Holmgren, 44, whose Chinese name is Ge Siwen, is the legal representative and site manager of ATM (Hulun Buir) Proving Ground Service, which provides cold-weather vehicle testing for carmakers. He is, perhaps, the only foreigner in the city. His company is located in Yakeshi, a small city with a population of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345570/swedish-man-owns-vehicle-testing-centre-chinas-inner-mongolia-likely-only-foreigner-there?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345570/swedish-man-owns-vehicle-testing-centre-chinas-inner-mongolia-likely-only-foreigner-there?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Kevin McSpadden Kevin McSpadden From the 18th century onwards, female authors gained unprecedented prominence, from Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters in the West to the rise of significant women writers in Qing-era China (1644-1912). The increasing prominence of female Chinese authors was driven by Dream of the Red Chamber, an 18th-century masterpiece by Cao Xueqin, widely considered the pinnacle of Chinese fiction and one of the four great classical novels of Chinese history. Cao’s book was so important that a cottage... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345850/china-qing-era-saw-rise-female-authors-poets-despite-broad-restrictions-women-arts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345850/china-qing-era-saw-rise-female-authors-poets-despite-broad-restrictions-women-arts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Chinese film director Zhang Yimou may be a household name who is celebrated as the country’s “national master” but his wife Chen Ting is little known and dedicates herself to their family. The woman behind China’s No 1 director recently attracted attention for appearing at the Beijing premiere of Zhang’s latest movie Scare Out in mid-February. Pictures of Chen, 44, dressed casually, went viral on mainland social media as internet users were impressed by her slim physique and relatively young... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345338/wife-china-director-zhang-yimou-who-31-years-his-junior-remains-largely-unknown-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345338/wife-china-director-zhang-yimou-who-31-years-his-junior-remains-largely-unknown-public?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 01:22:05 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 75-year-old Chinese actress has ignited a nationwide debate over age representation after portraying a teenage girl and sharing a kiss with a much younger male co-star in a mini-drama. Liu Xiaoqing, a cherished figure in Chinese cinema with over 10 million social media followers, has long been celebrated for her youthful energy and commitment to her craft, earning her the title of China’s “ageless goddess.” In the mini-drama Splendid Tranquility, which aired in February, Liu plays Su Wanqing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345418/china-actress-75-triggers-debate-playing-teenage-girl-mini-drama-kissing-young-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3345418/china-actress-75-triggers-debate-playing-teenage-girl-mini-drama-kissing-young-man?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:35 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A businesswoman from central China who was raised in a family that prized sons over daughters has built her own e-commerce fashion empire. Huang Xuanni, 44, grew up in a rural family in Binzhou, Hunan province, where she was the overlooked sixth daughter among seven children. Her parents, who lavished attention on their only son, left Huang to eat alone on the doorstep and rarely remembered her name. Mainland reports recount a heartbreaking moment in her childhood when her parents abandoned her... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3344619/china-entrepreneur-abandoned-child-owns-fashion-brand-generates-us36-million-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3344619/china-entrepreneur-abandoned-child-owns-fashion-brand-generates-us36-million-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Two China-based foreign influencers who hired a taxi driver to take them on a 4,000-kilometre trip from the south to the north of the country gave their cabby what he has described as an “incredible” experience. One, an Israeli internet celebrity called Raz Gal-Or is famous in China where he has 9.5 million followers and where he is known as Gao Yousi; the other is a French key opinion leader (KOL) whose Chinese name is Xiao Weihong. On January 28, they began sharing a four-episode series of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343354/incredible-china-cabby-drives-foreign-influencers-4000-km-trip-sees-snow-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343354/incredible-china-cabby-drives-foreign-influencers-4000-km-trip-sees-snow-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Taiwan singer Kenji Wu has received official praise for his grass roots charitable activities in mainland China. Wu, better known as Wu Kequn in China, shot to fame more than two decades ago for his romantic songs. He has a large fan base across the country. In the past two years, he returned to the spotlight for viral short videos showing him travelling to more than 100 mainland cities and recording the stories of ordinary people, state media CCTV reported. Wu released a video on February 4... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343050/taiwan-singer-visits-200-china-cities-help-farmers-sell-produce-eateries-supermarkets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343050/taiwan-singer-visits-200-china-cities-help-farmers-sell-produce-eateries-supermarkets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 30-year-old Chinese woman earning over 1 million yuan (US$140,000) per month has publicly announced her retirement plans to travel to Iceland, igniting widespread envy among younger generations online. Deng Yiran, a geophysics graduate from Nanjing University in Jiangsu province, southeastern China, has garnered considerable attention following her announcement to retire at such a young age. As of this month, Deng collaborates with several companies across China, including those in Beijing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343421/china-woman-30-earning-us140000-month-running-marketing-firm-announces-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343421/china-woman-30-earning-us140000-month-running-marketing-firm-announces-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang China’s beloved “Diving Queen” Quan Hongchan has once again amazed her fans by being named Sports Person of the Year and making her magazine debut on the cover alongside other Chinese stars. On February 9, the country’s People magazine officially announced its 2025 cover line-up. It features eight phenomenal figures who made a significant impact in their respective fields in 2025. The line-up includes Quan Hongchan, Xin Zhilei, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Shu Qi, Shan Yichun, Liu Jiakun, Zhi Huijun and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343158/china-buzzes-diving-queen-quan-hongchan-named-sports-person-year-makes-magazine-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343158/china-buzzes-diving-queen-quan-hongchan-named-sports-person-year-makes-magazine-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The death in a horse riding accident of a Chinese government official while filming to promote the beauty of a local area has sparked heated online discussions about the phenomenon of “official influencers”. On January 11, He Jiaolong fell from a horse while filming for an agricultural e-commerce programme in the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, northwestern China, and suffered a severe head injury. She was rushed to hospital but died from her injuries on January 14. She was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342538/china-official-dies-after-horse-riding-accident-while-filming-publicity-clip-local-agriculture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342538/china-official-dies-after-horse-riding-accident-while-filming-publicity-clip-local-agriculture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Some Chinese and foreign stars and celebrities have trended on mainland social media in anticipation of the Lunar New Year, as their names or their Chinese translations sound similar to the word “horse” in Mandarin. An unexpected sensation is British actor Tom Felton, known for portraying a villain in the Harry Potter series. He has gone viral in China in recent weeks, with images of his character, Draco Malfoy, appearing in many homes and offices as festive decorations, according to Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342994/china-and-foreign-stars-names-sounding-chinese-character-horse-gain-popularity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342994/china-and-foreign-stars-names-sounding-chinese-character-horse-gain-popularity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China is experiencing an extraordinary rise in “granfluencers,” or senior influencers, since 2019, as its growing ageing population embraces the online community. Major social media platforms in mainland China have seen a rapid increase in senior users in recent years. RedNote reported over 30 million active users aged 60 and older by 2024, a remarkable threefold increase in just two years. Collectively, these seniors contributed over 100 million posts to the platform. Similarly, Douyin, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342207/silver-surfers-how-china-granfluencers-steal-spotlight-taking-over-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342207/silver-surfers-how-china-granfluencers-steal-spotlight-taking-over-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang If you’re enjoying a cup of apple herbal tea, starting your day with tai chi, and winding down with a soothing foot bath, you may be part of an intriguing trend known as “Becoming Chinese.” Since January, a TikTok influencer has unintentionally ignited a global movement centred on adopting Chinese lifestyle habits, with videos showcasing these practices attracting over 20 million views. In one engaging clip, Sherry Zhu Xirui, 23, humorously proclaims to her audience: “If you love hotpot, dim... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342243/cultural-currents-how-becoming-chinese-trend-transforming-western-lifestyles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342243/cultural-currents-how-becoming-chinese-trend-transforming-western-lifestyles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 06:00:14 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The senior executive of China’s leading hotpot brand Haidilao, Yang Lijuan, has been hailed as “China’s most capable waitress” thanks to her legendary waitress-turned-CEO story. Yang, 47, started her career as an ordinary waitress at Haidilao, which used to be a small hotpot restaurant in southwestern China’s Sichuan province. In 2022 she became the restaurant chain’s CEO after its founder Zhang Yong stepped down. Now, Yang is the CEO of Haidilao’s overseas unit, Super Hi. Yang was born in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342196/china-most-capable-waitress-begins-career-top-hotpot-chain-becomes-overseas-unit-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342196/china-most-capable-waitress-begins-career-top-hotpot-chain-becomes-overseas-unit-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan More than two decades ago, he was among China’s first generation of online celebrities. A photograph of his large head went viral and his pudgy face was superimposed on a raft of well-known figures. However, Qian Zhijun, who is better known as Xiao Pang, or “Little Fatty” in English on social media, and who disappeared from the spotlight, is back, Dawan News reported. “My life is no different from that of any ordinary person. I have been married and have a child. I just live an ordinary life,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341686/china-first-generation-celebrity-known-photo-chubby-face-scornful-looks-unemployed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341686/china-first-generation-celebrity-known-photo-chubby-face-scornful-looks-unemployed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:00:38 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang More than a decade ago, Chinese wildlife artist Li Weiyi rescued a dying wolf cub in the grasslands of southwestern China. Recently, the 2017 documentary Return to the Wolves, which chronicles her time with her wolf son, regained attention thanks to a commentary video by film influencer @bizhanfenghua. The topic has attracted an astonishing 2.8 billion views on mainland social media. In April 2010, while sketching in the Zoige Prairie in Sichuan province, Li came across a little wolf, only five... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341708/story-china-woman-and-adopted-wolf-son-gains-renewed-fame-garners-28-billion-views-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341708/story-china-woman-and-adopted-wolf-son-gains-renewed-fame-garners-28-billion-views-online?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:37 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The founder of China’s leading supermarket chain, Pangdonglai, has won admiration for wading into icy water to save a man trapped in a car. The drama unfolded on January 21, when Yu Donglai and his friends were driving several SUVs past the banks of the Ru River in Ruzhou, central Henan province, Elephant News reported. When Yu saw a BMW SUV being trapped in a marsh, he told his friends to stop their vehicles to help. Yu, 60, took off his coat and got into the freezing water, which was up to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341518/china-retail-chain-boss-rescues-man-pulling-car-freezing-river-earning-high-praise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341518/china-retail-chain-boss-rescues-man-pulling-car-freezing-river-earning-high-praise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:00:38 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A woman from central China has made waves by selling courses that teach women the techniques of seductive gazes and flirtation to rejuvenate their marriages. Now in her late 40s, Zhou Yuan, from Changsha, Hunan province, left her career in banking to start a beauty salon before founding the Black and White Sexual Intelligence School. Zhou has become known as the “Godmother of sexual intelligence”. She defines sexual intelligence as the ability to attract men by combining sexual ability,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341506/china-godmum-sexual-intelligence-earns-us35-million-teaching-women-sexy-gazes-flirtation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341506/china-godmum-sexual-intelligence-earns-us35-million-teaching-women-sexy-gazes-flirtation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Hong Kong film producer Tiffany Chen has announced her intention to work until the age of 100, encouraging young people not to rush into retirement. Chen, 67, is the wife of Hong Kong film mogul Charles Heung Wah-keung and is well-known on mainland social media as Madam Heung. She is also the mother of actor Jacky Heung. As vice-chairman of China Star Entertainment, Chen has been instrumental in launching the careers of superstars such as Andy Lau Tak-wah. On January 13, she released a video... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340850/hong-kong-film-producer-plans-work-till-100-criticised-urging-youth-retire-late?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340850/hong-kong-film-producer-plans-work-till-100-criticised-urging-youth-retire-late?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Former Chinese actor and businessman Li Yapeng, who is also the ex-husband of Cantopop diva Faye Wong, hit the headlines recently after he admitted that a charity hospital he founded was in serious debt. Li, 54, announced on January 14 that the Beijing Smile Angel Hospital, which he and his ex-wife Wong founded in 2012 to help children born with a cleft lip like their daughter Li Yan, was facing closure over unpaid rent. According to the hospital, it has operated on 11,000 children with a cleft... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340840/li-yapeng-ex-husband-cantopop-queen-goes-greasy-uncle-hero-after-funding-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340840/li-yapeng-ex-husband-cantopop-queen-goes-greasy-uncle-hero-after-funding-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Not long ago, a humble fruit stall in Shanghai saw its sales skyrocket when Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, dropped by for some food. Meanwhile, a once-obscure village in southern China has become a tourist hotspot, drawing over 10,000 visitors daily, simply for being the hometown of Liang Wenfeng, the founder of the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek. During Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s 44-hour visit to China in 2023, the buzz surrounding his meals and itinerary on mainland social... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341558/why-tech-billionaires-enjoy-rock-star-treatment-china-compared-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341558/why-tech-billionaires-enjoy-rock-star-treatment-china-compared-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Education in China’s countryside should shift away from rote-based learning to focus on nurturing curiosity and creativity in the artificial intelligence era, Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma said in a meeting with rural teachers on Monday. In remarks published by the Jack Ma Foundation on Tuesday, former English teacher Ma said the dawn of the AI era posed a challenge for rural education, but also presented an opportunity to “return to the fundamentals of education”. Alibaba owns the South... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341543/teach-our-children-well-jack-ma-urges-changes-chinas-rural-education-ai-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341543/teach-our-children-well-jack-ma-urges-changes-chinas-rural-education-ai-era?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang bought street snacks worth 65 yuan (US$9) at a market in Shanghai while giving its owner a lai see of 600 yuan (US$90), but the operator did not recognise the artificial intelligence (AI) chip mogul. Huang recently sparked a storm on mainland social media thanks to his down-to-earth and friendly demeanour during a visit to a wet market in Shanghai. It is his routine to visit his company’s offices in mainland China before flying to Taiwan before the Lunar New Year each... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341357/whos-he-china-vendor-remains-unfazed-after-receiving-lai-see-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3341357/whos-he-china-vendor-remains-unfazed-after-receiving-lai-see-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Taiwan’s Mandopop queen Jolin Tsai’s new concert tour has been branded a “cult” event online. But the singer has hit back and received support from fans, including mainland China’s state media. Tsai unveiled her new world tour concert, Pleasure, at the Taipei Dome from December 30 to January 1. As footage of the breathtaking stage circulated online, a mainland Chinese influencer with 400,000 followers, @celialiang, accused Tsai’s concert of being “cultlike”. The influencer and her supporters... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340659/china-concerts-taiwan-singer-jolin-tsai-likened-cult-events-cctv-praises-artistic-merit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340659/china-concerts-taiwan-singer-jolin-tsai-likened-cult-events-cctv-praises-artistic-merit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 101-year-old Chinese grandmother has dazzled and inspired many by embracing a “reverse lifestyle”, staying up late to watch TV and snacking freely, yet still leading a healthy life, complete with all her natural teeth. Jiang Yueqin hails from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province in southeastern China, and is a proud mother of seven. In her youth, she turned down job opportunities at a state-owned enterprise to become a full-time housewife, dedicating herself to raising her children. Recently, she has... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340361/china-grandma-101-stays-late-watch-tv-enjoys-snacks-shares-longevity-secret?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340361/china-grandma-101-stays-late-watch-tv-enjoys-snacks-shares-longevity-secret?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Mainland Chinese internet users were left in awe by the country’s Olympic champion, Quan Hongchan – not for her diving techniques this time, but for her new image, which prompted many to marvel that Quan has “really grown up.” On January 12, Quan shared multiple images of herself picking strawberries and tomatoes at a farm in her hometown of Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, as reported by the news outlet Red Star News. Shortly after, the hashtags “Quan Hongchan sports long hair” and “Quan Hongchan... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340341/china-diving-queen-quan-hongchan-delights-fans-new-hairdo-shows-she-has-really-grown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3340341/china-diving-queen-quan-hongchan-delights-fans-new-hairdo-shows-she-has-really-grown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Chinese actress has apologised for making comments in which she flaunted her wealth, sparking a public backlash. Yan Xuejing made the controversial comments during a live-streaming session at the end of December when she said a couple should earn at least 800,000 yuan (US$115,000) a year to “maintain a family’s operation”, China Newsweek reported. Yan, 53, complained to her audience that her son earns little. “He is 32 years old. He and his wife both have a very low income,” said Yan. She... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339754/china-actress-loses-brand-partners-saying-hundreds-thousands-month-not-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339754/china-actress-loses-brand-partners-saying-hundreds-thousands-month-not-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An 82-year-old woman from eastern China, affectionately known as the “hardcore grandma,” has captivated many with her remarkable skills in operating field fertilisation drones and her success as a live-streamer selling rice. Born in 1943, Dai Shuying hails from Laomei Village in Xindu Town, Tongcheng, Anhui province. In her youth, she worked as a bookkeeper and was regarded as one of the few “educated individuals” in her village, capable of reading, writing, and performing calculations. While... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339610/china-hardcore-grandma-gains-fame-farm-fertilisation-drone-skills-and-live-streamer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339610/china-hardcore-grandma-gains-fame-farm-fertilisation-drone-skills-and-live-streamer?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The rags-to-riches story of how Zhou Qunfei rose from humble beginnings in a poor village in central China to become a highly successful businesswoman has been an inspiration for countless migrant workers across the country. The 56-year-old founder of the touch-screen maker Lens Technology is estimated to have a net worth of 110 billion yuan (US$16 billion). She claimed second place in the 2025 Hurun Female Entrepreneurs Ranking List issued by Hurun Institute. Zhou first came to attention in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338905/zhou-qunfei-ex-security-guard-rises-become-worlds-richest-self-made-woman-entrepreneur?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338905/zhou-qunfei-ex-security-guard-rises-become-worlds-richest-self-made-woman-entrepreneur?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Five years after she lost her left arm and leg in a car crash, a Chinese influencer started a shoe-cleaning business that provides jobs for disabled people. Weng Xinyi has continued to move people with her optimistic life attitude. The 30-year-old’s left arm and leg were amputated after her friend crashed a Porsche sports car in 2020. She suffered three heart attacks and 14 rounds of surgery to survive. Weng’s boyfriend left her and her friend, who survived the crash intact, stopped paying for... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339147/china-woman-who-lost-limbs-car-crash-assigns-disabled-staff-jobs-based-their-strengths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339147/china-woman-who-lost-limbs-car-crash-assigns-disabled-staff-jobs-based-their-strengths?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese actor who once went viral for offering paid companionship services to people evening hiking on Mount Tai for 799 yuan (US$115) has revealed that the charge was inflated to 19,999 yuan (US$2,800). He now plans to launch a paid swimming companionship service in 2026. In June, 35-year-old Shi Yuanting, a native of Shenyang in northeastern China’s Liaoning province, went viral after posting a video of himself accompanying a client on a hike up Mount Tai. He charged 699 yuan during the day... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338309/china-actor-rejects-us2800-fee-be-mountain-climbing-companion-plans-change-jobs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338309/china-actor-rejects-us2800-fee-be-mountain-climbing-companion-plans-change-jobs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 08:00:10 +0000