https://www.scmp.com/rss/509870/feed The fascinating backstories of your favourite Hong Kong dishes, buildings and traditions. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The painful memory of my first run-in with this teapot still burns. When I was about 10 years old, my parents taught me the courtesy of pouring tea for everyone else at the table before mine. On that fateful Saturday, during yum cha, they asked me to pick up the teapot and pour tea for my grandma. The experience was comical yet traumatic. I remember that the teapot, filled to the brim with boiling water, was too heavy for me to pick up by the handle with one hand. The unbalanced weight of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3158595/teapot-hell-why-chinese-restaurant-staple-needs-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3158595/teapot-hell-why-chinese-restaurant-staple-needs-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:29 +0000 Char siu, easily the most well-loved among the repertoire of Chinese roast meats, loses something in its basic English name, barbecued pork. This sweetly marinated and basted meat is beloved by young and old, has become a symbol of comfort food in Cantonese cuisine, and means so much more than just barbecued or roasted meat. The term “char siu” appeared in royal recipe books over 3,000 years ago in the Zhou dynasty. This was the era when menus featured a lot of grill or barbecue recipes. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3151591/why-char-siu-old-hong-kongs-classic-comfort-food-and-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3151591/why-char-siu-old-hong-kongs-classic-comfort-food-and-how?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Oct 2021 04:00:16 +0000 Besides being world famous for its spectacular views and skyline, Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is also well known for its deep water, which allows for 10,000-tonne ships to dock and easily move through the heart of the city. Fifty years ago, the RMS Queen Elizabeth – the largest ocean liner in the world at that time – arrived in Hong Kong. However, no one would have expected that the final destination of this titan was the seabed of Victoria Harbour. Today, parts of the wreck are still lying at... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3144126/old-hong-kongs-50-year-old-shipwreck-how-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3144126/old-hong-kongs-50-year-old-shipwreck-how-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 01:00:16 +0000 At 178 years old, Queen’s Road is Hong Kong’s oldest street, built by the British Royal Engineers from 1841 to 1843, soon after the territory first came under British control. Originally 6.4km long, it stretched from Shek Tong Tsui to Wan Chai, an area then known as Victoria City. In places it tracked the original shore line, as it was before extensive reclamation began. Where to eat in Hong Kong in July, from CBD to spam musubi restaurant concepts What’s in a name? Its original name was Main... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3140017/story-behind-hong-kongs-famous-queens-road-named-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3140017/story-behind-hong-kongs-famous-queens-road-named-after?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jul 2021 09:10:41 +0000 The historical events that led to the founding of Hong Kong are also at the root of the city’s tailoring culture. It all goes back to the 19th century, the period explored in James Clavell’s epic doorstop of a novel, Tai-Pan, published in 1966. When China-based British and American entrepreneurs began to accumulate fortunes in the opium trade, tailors from the UK saw the potential for profit catering to these newly affluent individuals.  14 new restaurants and menus in Hong Kong to check out in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136963/david-bowie-bruno-mars-old-hong-kongs-tailors-made-suits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136963/david-bowie-bruno-mars-old-hong-kongs-tailors-made-suits?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Chinese foods often have deep roots in history and come with many stories (and myths) attached that have been passed down through generations. Lunar New Year celebrations wouldn’t be complete without longevity noodles and fish, for example.  June 14 marks yet another exciting food-driven holiday for not only Chinese people but Vietnamese, Singaporeans, Taiwanese and Cantonese people all around the world. You may perhaps already know that the reason we eat rice dumplings (aka zongzi) in summer... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3136943/why-do-we-eat-zongzi-during-dragon-boat-festival-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3136943/why-do-we-eat-zongzi-during-dragon-boat-festival-history?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jun 2021 23:00:00 +0000 One of Hong Kong’s most iconic landmarks, the Peak Tram, is set to undergo its sixth upgrade since opening in 1888, and will be temporarily closed to the public from this month. 14 new restaurants and menus in Hong Kong to check out in June Why the reputation? One of the world’s oldest funicular railways, the Peak Tram is just as much a tourist destination as the spot it was built to service, Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak. Its must-ride reputation has built up over time thanks to the way the cars... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136921/peak-tram-old-hong-kong-icon-taking-millions-tourists-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136921/peak-tram-old-hong-kong-icon-taking-millions-tourists-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:34:12 +0000 Nathan Road remains one of Hong Kong’s most famous streets thanks to the fact that it is lined with hotels, shops and heritage sites. Stretching 3.6km north from the Kowloon harbourfront in Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po, it also happens to be the oldest road in Kowloon. Would you pay US$174,000 a month to live on The Peak? Someone just did History The first part of the road was completed in 1861, soon after the land was ceded to the British colony by the Qing dynasty in 1860. The road began... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136432/what-was-nathan-road-old-hong-kong-bruce-lees-former?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136432/what-was-nathan-road-old-hong-kong-bruce-lees-former?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jun 2021 07:00:21 +0000 It’s a tough time for cinemas. While there are theatres closing down – local cinema chain UA lowered its curtains for the last time earlier this year – there are also new cinemas being launched in movie-loving Hong Kong. There’s the sci-fi themed ACX Cinemas in North Point’s Harbour North shopping mall and the independent four-house Golden Scene in Kennedy Town. It’s also been confirmed that another Emperor Cinema will be coming to Times Square. Meanwhile characterful movie theatres of the past... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135995/beatles-cantonese-opera-alien-miss-universe-old-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135995/beatles-cantonese-opera-alien-miss-universe-old-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jun 2021 01:00:16 +0000 At Sotheby’s Hong Kong’s China/5000 Years sale in June 2020, a 17th-century Chinese agate goblet was sold for HK$275,000 (US$35,000). The alluring “twilight” glow radiating through the finely carved translucent wine cup prompted the auction house’s specialist Vivian Tong to describe it as a “luminous goblet” or yeguangbei. The term was immortalised by Tang dynasty (618–907AD) poet, Wang Han, whose Song of Liangzhou describes a “fine grape wine that shines in a luminous cup”. 10 luxury mahjong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3136060/what-chinese-luminous-cup-and-where-do-you-buy-one-sothebys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3136060/what-chinese-luminous-cup-and-where-do-you-buy-one-sothebys?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jun 2021 07:30:13 +0000 Hollywood Road has been one of Hong Kong’s favourite destinations for tourists looking for art and antiques over the years, but it has more to offer than just shopping. Just take a walk along its 1km stretch to learn about its long history that dates back to early colonial days. Where to eat in Hong Kong in May What’s in a name? The name may evoke images of glitz and glamour, but Hollywood Road in Central was most likely named by the city’s second governor Sir John Francis Davis, who served in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135182/hong-kongs-hollywood-road-has-nothing-do-los-angeles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135182/hong-kongs-hollywood-road-has-nothing-do-los-angeles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 May 2021 07:00:19 +0000 It’s time to celebrate Lunar New Year again! Aside from receiving red packets, the other tradition that children are guaranteed to get excited about is the candy box, or chuen hup. But while nowadays we might be more focused on the box’s colourful exterior and delicious contents, the custom is actually steeped in history – from the name to the traditional sweets found inside.  6 places to eat poon choi with a twist in Hong Kong this Lunar New Year   First of all, chuen hup used to be called zan... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3121146/what-lunar-new-year-chuen-hup-or-candy-box-and-what-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3121146/what-lunar-new-year-chuen-hup-or-candy-box-and-what-are?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Feb 2021 04:00:10 +0000 Nothing signifies autumn on the Chinese calendar like Mid-Autumn Festival, and nothing says Mid-Autumn Festival like mooncakes. Most mooncakes consist of a thick, tender pastry skin enveloping a sweet, dense lotus paste filling, and may contain one or more whole salted egg yolks in the centre as a symbol of the full moon. The more egg yolks, the higher the price. Although the traditional recipe for mooncakes isn’t complicated, it is rather labour intensive, making the sweet snack one of the most... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3103478/why-do-we-eat-mooncakes-mid-autumn-festival-legend-moon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3103478/why-do-we-eat-mooncakes-mid-autumn-festival-legend-moon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2020 07:00:22 +0000 Who would have thought the humble wonton could expose the cross-cultural misunderstandings in our globalised kitchens? The staple Chinese dumpling recently sparked a fiery debate after taking the spotlight in an episode of MasterChef Australia. Which popular Chinese restaurant staples are truly Chinese?         View this post on Instagram                   Like I said, BEST, FOOD, EVER!! @masterchefau #masterchefau A post shared by Andy Allen (@andyallencooks) on Apr... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3086060/should-wontons-be-fried-or-boiled-maybe-masterchef?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3086060/should-wontons-be-fried-or-boiled-maybe-masterchef?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2020 08:00:17 +0000 Just as French toast was originally found in Roman recipes of the fourth or fifth century, some of the world’s most popular Chinese dishes did not originate in China. Many of the dishes found at Chinese takeaways and restaurants in the West have been invented or adapted for local palates. Conversely, some Chinese-style dishes we thought were made in the west are Chinese. Here’s the lowdown on your favourite dishes. Where are Singapore noodles from if not from Singapore? Prawn crackers Although... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3084546/fortune-cookies-are-japanese-prawn-crackers-indonesian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3084546/fortune-cookies-are-japanese-prawn-crackers-indonesian?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2020 06:58:25 +0000 A popular dish at Lunar New Year is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall also known as Buddha’s Temptation and Happiness and Longevity. Originating from the Fujian province during the Qing dynasty, the soup or stew often includes more than 20 ingredients such as quail eggs, bamboo shoots, scallops, sea cucumber, abalone Jinhua ham and taro. It originally featured shark fin, but concerns over environmental issues and the welfare of sharks has inspired many chefs to take out this ingredient and replace it... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047405/would-you-pay-us144-popular-lunar-new-year-dish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047405/would-you-pay-us144-popular-lunar-new-year-dish?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jan 2020 04:00:06 +0000 It’s Lunar New Year, and the clanging of cymbals and the persistent beat of drums are aural cues to the lion dance. Colourful and loud, the lions are an ancient Chinese ritual to scare away evil spirits, and bless a business or home. The Chinese lion does not look much like a lion, though, and if these predators aren’t native to China, where does the dance come from? Humans have long dressed up like animals to dance, a practice that dates back to the Qin dynasty, around 220BC, when there were... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047386/lunar-new-year-lions-arent-native-china-so-where-did?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047386/lunar-new-year-lions-arent-native-china-so-where-did?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2020 04:00:15 +0000 Red lanterns, mouse year decorations and the festive music booming from every corner are all reminders that the Lunar New Year is only a few days away. As the longest holiday in Hong Kong, Lunar New Year is the most important festival of the year for the Chinese community, celebrated by an estimated 1.5 billion people globally. But did you know that historically Chinese New Year once fell around October? So how did the festival become the way it is today? Which Lunar New Year dishes bring luck... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3046993/how-did-lunar-new-year-festival-arise-and-whats-all-lions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3046993/how-did-lunar-new-year-festival-arise-and-whats-all-lions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:30:15 +0000 Lunar New Year – which this year falls on January 25 – comes with a myriad of traditions, customs and auspicious acts, and food is no exception. Two dishes that are said to bring luck and prosperity to the eater are turnip cake and nian gao; the latter is also associated with tales of people-eating monsters and deity bribery. Turnip cake For readers not familiar with this beloved staple, the first thing to clear up is that the “cake” is not made from turnip; it is made from white radish, known... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3045563/why-eating-turnip-cake-and-nian-gao-sticky-rice-cakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3045563/why-eating-turnip-cake-and-nian-gao-sticky-rice-cakes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jan 2020 06:00:09 +0000