https://www.scmp.com/rss/514053/feed The latest news, trends and events people in Hong Kong are talking about on the internet, social media and elsewhere. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A Hong Kong travel blogger’s brief disappearance during a solo trip to protest-hit Iran has triggered a heated online debate over the safety of women travelling alone to politically volatile nations. More female solo travellers took to the internet on Sunday to share their experiences and feelings on visiting Iran for leisure, as the country became embroiled in social unrest and was isolated from the rest of the world. Hong Kong authorities on Saturday night confirmed the missing blogger known... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340337/if-you-dont-die-its-adventure-hong-kong-bloggers-iran-trip-sparks-travel-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340337/if-you-dont-die-its-adventure-hong-kong-bloggers-iran-trip-sparks-travel-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:26:35 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu An all-you-can-eat hotpot restaurant in Hong Kong has apologised after a video showing two diners sneaking fresh seafood and beef into bags was leaked online, stressing that the footage was never intended for public release. The Aquatic Market restaurant in Tsuen Wan Plaza said the company had always attached great importance to protecting customers’ privacy rights, noting the video was recorded solely for internal staff training purposes. “The video was only recorded for internal training... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327178/hong-kong-restaurant-says-sorry-after-video-diners-sneaking-seafood-beef-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327178/hong-kong-restaurant-says-sorry-after-video-diners-sneaking-seafood-beef-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 01:54:23 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Hongkongers are likely to have already seen Steven Harrison Stratman’s videos of him exploring every library in the city on their Instagram feeds. In his clips, Stratman – better known as @authorshstratman online – captures everyday scenes of libraries from Shau Kei Wan to Tiu Keng Leng, from children flipping through picture books to the architecture. His narrated videos even document the journeys he takes to get there and explain the area’s history, as well as review the library itself. It is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326090/viral-instagram-videos-hong-kongs-libraries-are-time-capsule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326090/viral-instagram-videos-hong-kongs-libraries-are-time-capsule?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott It is easy to spot Kent Wong among the lunchtime diners at a busy cooked food centre in Hong Kong’s Kowloon City neighbourhood. He is wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and a tropical-print shirt – the signature style of his social media moniker, Uncle K. Wong, who has amassed more than 184,000 Instagram followers since he began posting food videos a year ago, chose the look as a disguise during the early days of creating content. But, ironically, his glasses and cap now define him. No one is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3325797/hong-kong-instagram-star-uncle-k-making-viral-food-videos-and-being-normal-person?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3325797/hong-kong-instagram-star-uncle-k-making-viral-food-videos-and-being-normal-person?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer American Taylor Townsend has apologised for a social media rant criticising the Chinese food at a hotel in Shenzhen, where she is competing in the Billie Jean King Cup. The tennis player, who was accused of having “no class” and “no education” by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko during a row at this month’s US Open, posted a series of videos on Instagram on Tuesday saying she would “talk to HR” about the quality of the food and could not believe “these people” ate bullfrogs, which she thought were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3325830/american-taylor-townsend-goes-social-media-rant-about-chinese-food-later-apologises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3325830/american-taylor-townsend-goes-social-media-rant-about-chinese-food-later-apologises?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:30:56 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Online courses designed to improve people’s social skills offered by Hong Kong film producer Tiffany Chen have generated total sales of more than two million yuan (US$280,000) in the past week. Chen, 68, is the wife of entertainment tycoon Charles Heung Wah-keung and is better known on the mainland of China as Madam Heung, the mother of actor Jacky Heung, who is also an online celebrity. At the end of August, Chen launched courses titled Madam Heung Upgrading Bestie Circle on major social media... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3324203/hong-kong-film-producer-ignites-debate-selling-social-skills-courses-making-us280000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3324203/hong-kong-film-producer-ignites-debate-selling-social-skills-courses-making-us280000?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Angel Woo Angel Woo A video of two young skateboarders speeding down a curvy highway in Hong Kong has gone viral online, prompting transport authorities to warn that the pair may have broken the law and that they should stick to skateparks. A video of two young people skateboarding on the Hill Road flyover in Shek Tong Tsui has gained 312,000 views on the social media platform Threads. The pair are wearing helmets and gloves while travelling at high speeds on the flyover, which goes one-way through densely packed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3324329/viral-video-skateboarders-hong-kong-highway-sparks-debate-over-road-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3324329/viral-video-skateboarders-hong-kong-highway-sparks-debate-over-road-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:26:12 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun One of Hong Kong’s hottest new restaurant openings is an 87-seat ramen shop near the top floor of Langham Place in Mong Kok. Is it a new Michelin-star franchise from Japan? Maybe something from a famous artisanal chef renowned for handmade noodles and pork bone soup? Nope. Chiikawa Ramen Buta is drawing crowds as the first overseas branch of the Japanese chain based on the wildly popular Chiikawa manga series. To be honest, I am not overly familiar with the cartoony mouse-like characters, but I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3323345/chiikawa-fans-best-visit-new-hong-kong-restaurant-soon-while-they-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3323345/chiikawa-fans-best-visit-new-hong-kong-restaurant-soon-while-they-can?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:15:07 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A Latvian judge in the Latin dance contest at the World Games in Chengdu has gone viral on Chinese social media, with fans commenting on his posture and elegance, which have earned him the nickname “Mr Ferrari”. Standing at more than 1.88 metres (six feet, two inches), Sergey Sinkins, listed as an official adjudicator at the World Games, drew the eye of Chinese fans at the Chengbei Gymnasium on Friday for his tall and slender appearance, needle-straight posture, silver hair and black suit. As... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3321364/elegant-world-games-judge-mr-ferrari-goes-viral-chinese-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3321364/elegant-world-games-judge-mr-ferrari-goes-viral-chinese-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Aug 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok There has been a much-documented global shortage of matcha over the past year, with many reports pointing the finger at a certain set of vacuous, superficial influencers for the drink’s surge in popularity. I don’t think I’ve seen such rage and navel-gazing over a cup of tea since early 2024, when an American chemist enraged Brits by saying the best way to brew tea was to add a pinch of salt to it. Some of the macha huffing and puffing that has been circulating on my side of the internet... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3320962/japanese-matcha-has-social-media-froth-can-we-all-just-calm-down-bit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3320962/japanese-matcha-has-social-media-froth-can-we-all-just-calm-down-bit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:45:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Pickleball is becoming increasingly popular in Asia, with new courts opening regularly and rising numbers of players. In 2024, Seymour Rifkind, a US-based pickleball ambassador, said that Chinese officials told him they expect there to be 10,000 courts and 100 million players in China over the next five years. In Hong Kong, the inaugural Hong Kong Open, part of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour Asia, will take place at the Kai Tak Arena in Kai Tak Sports Park this August. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3320108/rise-pickleball-hong-kong-coming-hong-kong-open-and-six-local-venues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3320108/rise-pickleball-hong-kong-coming-hong-kong-open-and-six-local-venues?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Nancy Wang,Chloe Loung Nancy Wang,Chloe Loung Social media users are questioning a new trend in Hong Kong after videos circulated earlier this week on Reddit showing people making what appeared to be the controversial Nazi salute. The videos attracted comments questioning the trend – which had become popular among users of Chinese social media platforms RedNote and Douyin – and its implications. However, other users pointed out that the gestures were meant to be harmless tributes to a character in the popular Hong Kong film series Young and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3319257/nazi-salute-trend-chinese-social-media-actually-tribute-young-and-dangerous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3319257/nazi-salute-trend-chinese-social-media-actually-tribute-young-and-dangerous?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:15:09 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong actors Eric Tsang Chi-wai and Kenny Bee have distanced themselves from an outspoken Malaysian singer-songwriter after facing a backlash for taking a photo with the rapper known for his critical stance on mainland Chinese authorities. Veteran actor and comedian Tsang, 72, apologised on Monday on Chinese social media platform Weibo, two days after Malaysian singer Wee Meng Chee, more popularly known as Namewee, posted his photo with the two Hong Kong celebrities. The pair were in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319038/hong-kongs-eric-tsang-kenny-bee-deny-links-malaysias-namewee-after-group-photo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319038/hong-kongs-eric-tsang-kenny-bee-deny-links-malaysias-namewee-after-group-photo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:13:20 +0000 Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Hong Kong striker Michael Udebuluzor has been hammered on social media over comments he made after Tuesday’s East Asian Football Championship match against China. China won a tight affair 1-0 in South Korea and following the clash, Udebuluzor addressed the travelling Hong Kong fans, who outnumbered their mainland counterparts, using a megaphone to thank them for their support, adding: “Look at the Chinese fans, next time we’ll beat these b******s”. The incident occurred just 24 hours after the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3318582/hong-kong-striker-angers-china-fans-post-match-comments-asks-forgiveness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3318582/hong-kong-striker-angers-china-fans-post-match-comments-asks-forgiveness?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Nancy Wang Nancy Wang Gone are the days when photo booths were only for taking passport photos. In Asia, photo booths where users can customise their snaps with decorative stickers, filters and more have been popular since the 1990s, when purikura booths debuted in Japan. More recently, South Korea’s “Life 4 Cuts” (L4C) have become popular, especially among members of Gen Z. This type of photo booth prints out four snapshots on a vertical or horizontal strip embellished with colourful borders and filters. What is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3318250/life-4-cuts-korean-photo-booth-trend-hits-hong-kong-4-popular-ones-try?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3318250/life-4-cuts-korean-photo-booth-trend-hits-hong-kong-4-popular-ones-try?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu More than a decade after Club Bboss was closed, a new nightspot has launched on the same site where the once-glamorous establishment operated for 28 years, with the goal of attracting tourists and young revellers eager for a glimpse of Hong Kong’s 1980s clubbing heyday. The new spot – known as Big Boss Generation (BBG) – opened for business on Saturday in the old club’s 56,000 sq ft site at the New Mandarin Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui East. It will use the former occupant’s old Chinese name, which... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3314464/hong-kongs-1980s-nightlife-culture-makes-dazzling-return-site-old-club-bboss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3314464/hong-kongs-1980s-nightlife-culture-makes-dazzling-return-site-old-club-bboss?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 11:56:01 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Two teenagers have been detained for urinating in a hotpot dish at a well-known restaurant chain outlet in Shanghai then posting footage of their drunken act online. Video footage of two men standing on a dining table while peeing into a hotpot soup in a private dining room in a Haidilao shop has triggered public outrage and concerns over food safety. The chain has more than 1,300 branches across China. The eatery in the video reported the case to the authorities, and on March 8, Shanghai police... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3301907/china-teenagers-detained-peeing-eatery-hotpot-posting-video-online-sparking-outrage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3301907/china-teenagers-detained-peeing-eatery-hotpot-posting-video-online-sparking-outrage?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Mar 2025 01:00:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong bus passengers have been told to refrain from clipping their nails while on board after a viral video featuring a commuter sparked anger online. Lai Siu-chung, director of the KMB branch of the Motor Transport Workers General Union, said on Sunday that passengers who were uncooperative could also be forced off buses. The union representative said commuters should also avoid finishing their make-up or carrying out similar activities, even in cases when companies had not explicitly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3299822/are-hongkongers-allowed-clip-nails-buses-viral-video-sparks-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3299822/are-hongkongers-allowed-clip-nails-buses-viral-video-sparks-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:16:22 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu The recent death in Japan of Taiwan actress and television host Barbie Hsu, also known as Big S, from flu-triggered pneumonia has prompted an outpouring of cherished memories from her fans. Many people have recalled the warmth of her personality, her inspiring words and the profound impact she had on their lives. Sweetest person A woman in Taiwan told of an encounter with Hsu many years ago. It came while she was crying on the back of her boyfriend’s motorbike while he waited for green light at... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3299277/fans-late-taiwan-actress-barbie-hsu-reflect-cherished-moments-remember-her-kindness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3299277/fans-late-taiwan-actress-barbie-hsu-reflect-cherished-moments-remember-her-kindness?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification If “brain rot”, the Oxford word of the year in 2024, were to take physical form, the emergence of antisocial online influencers would perhaps be its most fitting embodiment in Hong Kong. From Lam... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3298954/how-did-hong-kong-go-andy-lau-carriage-lau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3298954/how-did-hong-kong-go-andy-lau-carriage-lau?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:30:07 +0000 We are well into 2025 but the pistachio frenzy of 2024 shows no signs of subsiding. This is thanks largely to the global sensation that is the Can’t Get Knafeh It chocolate bar, commonly known as Dubai chocolate, which combines a rich pistachio cream filling with crunchy kataifi pastry. Going nuts for pistachio is not confined to bakery display cases: its hues have been spotted on 2025 spring/summer fashion catwalks and red carpets from Los Angeles to London, and cult fragrance brand D.S. &... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3297383/pistachio-trend-extends-hong-kong-bakeries-which-add-nut-traditional-snacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3297383/pistachio-trend-extends-hong-kong-bakeries-which-add-nut-traditional-snacks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A massage parlour in China is offering a shockingly cheap service, but to qualify for it, clients must be women and own either the latest iPhone or a luxury car to prove they are “exceptionally outstanding”. The parlour in the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen promotes its exclusive massage for outstanding women on a popular review and rating app. It offers a detox massage service, which includes an 80-minute full-body Chinese meridian therapy, for just 9 yuan (US$1). An 80-minute massage in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3295463/china-massage-parlour-offers-us1-service-exceptional-guests-who-own-iphone-16-mercedes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3295463/china-massage-parlour-offers-us1-service-exceptional-guests-who-own-iphone-16-mercedes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jan 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Awol Erizku has just arrived in Hong Kong, but he hits the ground running. This isn’t his first time exhibiting in Hong Kong, and talking to him you’d think he’s already been living here. The Ethiopian-born, New York-raised artist likes to explore the hiking trails, DJ at friends’ bars, and wander through Kowloon’s infamous Chungking Mansions. “There’s a friend of mine who would show me around, and he was instructed not to ever take me there. I was like, ‘We’re definitely going,’” Erizku laughs... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289694/meet-awol-erizku-whose-quaquaversal-exhibition-brings-afro-centric-art-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289694/meet-awol-erizku-whose-quaquaversal-exhibition-brings-afro-centric-art-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Dec 2024 02:00:19 +0000 A recent backlash against female Chinese athletes posting “sexy” content on social media is a reflection of traditional values that argue women should be “pure” and a way of projecting the country’s soft power through sports, experts have suggested. In recent weeks, former China national team athletes have hit back at critics, including other athletes, who said women posting “sexy” videos was a disgrace. In November, former gymnast Wu Liufang went viral after a public row with teammate Guan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3289751/backlash-against-sexy-chinese-sportswomen-reflection-traditional-values-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3289751/backlash-against-sexy-chinese-sportswomen-reflection-traditional-values-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2024 04:00:07 +0000 Another embarrassing example of bad behaviour has played out on a flight operated by flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways. The airline appears to have taken appropriate action by banning two passengers after a row, but the case must be examined thoroughly to ensure sufficient measures are in place to defuse tensions that arise. The incident came to light on Saturday when a woman, who speaks Mandarin, wrote on social media platform Xiaohongshu – an important source of travel tips on the mainland –... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3279818/we-can-all-play-part-friendlier-skies-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3279818/we-can-all-play-part-friendlier-skies-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:45:07 +0000 New mother Ying Ying, one of the giant pandas at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, is receiving special care over her changing food tastes following the birth of her twins. The park revealed on Sunday that Ying Ying had shown marked changes in her diet during her post-partum recovery. Ying Ying, aged 19, the equivalent to 57 in human years, became the world’s oldest captive giant panda to give birth on August 15, to a female and a male cub. The father is Le Le, also 19, the park’s other giant panda. “Due... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3276756/close-watch-hong-kongs-new-panda-mum-ying-ying-food-tastes-change-after-birth-twins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3276756/close-watch-hong-kongs-new-panda-mum-ying-ying-food-tastes-change-after-birth-twins?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Sep 2024 08:42:06 +0000 On any given day of the week, a queue of hungry patrons can be seen outside the doors of Hong Kong’s Bakehouse outlets. Despite the patisserie expanding to an impressive five outposts around highly trafficked neighbourhoods (Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, SoHo and Stanley), the appetite for chef-owner Grégoire Michaud’s airy croissants and sourdough egg tarts remains unsatisfied, judging by the throngs of patient customers waiting in 30-degree-Celsius-plus temperatures. Although four of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3275443/viral-fb-brands-bakehouse-coa-and-elephant-grounds-have-conquered-hong-kong-can-they-take-china-too?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3275443/viral-fb-brands-bakehouse-coa-and-elephant-grounds-have-conquered-hong-kong-can-they-take-china-too?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Aug 2024 23:45:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au One of Hong Kong’s giant panda cubs has captured the hearts of social media users with just a wiggle of the one-week-old’s tiny tummy after Ocean Park shared the latest clip to feature one of the twins. The park uploaded the 44-second video to the giant pandas’ dedicated social media accounts on Wednesday, with the clip showing the eldest cub nestling under her blankets before her pinkish-red body can be seen popping out. “Isn’t the little tummy of the older sister just adorable?” the park wrote... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3275386/hong-kong-panda-cub-melts-hearts-social-media-just-wiggle-its-tummy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3275386/hong-kong-panda-cub-melts-hearts-social-media-just-wiggle-its-tummy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:02:35 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Ocean Park will need to expand its pavilion space to accommodate six giant pandas including newborn twins, tourism chief Kevin Yeung Yun-hung has said, pledging to offer financial help to the theme park that is still in debt to the government. The theme park released a short clip on Sunday of one of the three-day-old cubs who gently squealed as it snuggled under a blanket while in an incubator, prompting a wave of reactions on social media. Ying Ying gave birth to a male and female... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3274920/hong-kongs-twin-panda-cubs-become-social-media-sensations-after-amassing-55000-followers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3274920/hong-kongs-twin-panda-cubs-become-social-media-sensations-after-amassing-55000-followers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Aug 2024 06:05:50 +0000 Social media has recently been flooded with images of oversized Hong Kong baked goods. First it was the massive croissant and latte offered at Cookie DPT in a collaboration with local patisserie brand Le Dessert. Waif-like young women would film themselves giggling while struggling to lift the giant cup of coffee at the store in Central on Hong Kong Island, while plenty more smarmed for the camera while hoisting the gargantuan pastry in the air. How many actually ate any of it? Le Dessert... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3268040/giant-pastries-go-viral-hong-kong-guess-where-they-all-end-after-ig-photo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3268040/giant-pastries-go-viral-hong-kong-guess-where-they-all-end-after-ig-photo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2024 23:45:08 +0000 Like many of us who grew up in Hong Kong, lemon tea has held an enduring appeal for me throughout my life. As a child, I would save up to buy Hi-C lemon tea from the vending machine, freeze boxes of them on hot days to enjoy as an icy treat, and stock my locker with them in high school when a vicious campaign replaced boxed drinks with healthier alternatives. This obsession came back to bite me during the summer holidays, when my doctor discovered the cause of my constant stomach and kidney... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3265990/hand-crushed-lemon-tea-takes-hong-kong-we-test-best-version?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3265990/hand-crushed-lemon-tea-takes-hong-kong-we-test-best-version?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2024 04:45:08 +0000 Director Wong Kar-wai’s films may have gifted the world with the quintessentially cinematic vision of Hong Kong, but the next generation is discovering the best of the city through the lens of a rather different auteur. In late 2022, filmmaker Jazzie Sillona decided to post his first Instagram video featuring everyday Hong Kong moments and sights, ranging from the Star Ferry crossing the busy harbour and rides at Disneyland, to the picturesque hiking trails of the Southside, all shot on his... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/article/3263720/how-old-hong-kong-went-viral-filmmaker-jazzie-sillona-has-clocked-nearly-500000-instagram-followers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/article/3263720/how-old-hong-kong-went-viral-filmmaker-jazzie-sillona-has-clocked-nearly-500000-instagram-followers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 May 2024 03:00:12 +0000 Multiple-award-winning Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai has been told to make way for younger talent after picking up his latest award at the city’s recent film awards. Leung, 61, was crowned best actor at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards on April 14 for his performance in the film The Goldfinger. It is the sixth time he has won the award. However, fellow Hong Kong film industry luminary, director Wong Jing, said it is time for Leung to step aside in favour of the younger generation. Wong’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3259165/veteran-hong-kong-film-star-tony-leung-urged-make-way-younger-talent-top-city-movie-director?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3259165/veteran-hong-kong-film-star-tony-leung-urged-make-way-younger-talent-top-city-movie-director?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:00:28 +0000 This past April Fools’ Day had a few surprises – namely, that something appearing to be a joke turned out to be real. The first was the news that Lin Heung Tea House, the historic dim sum parlour on Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, was set to open again on April 1. After a tumultuous few years that saw the restaurant close in 2019, reopen two days later, then close, seemingly for good, in 2022, it was resurrected once more on Easter Monday at 6am. By Tuesday morning, it seemed this news... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3257566/taste-test-hong-kongs-first-curry-fishball-tiramisu-and-tomato-and-scrambled-egg-ice-cream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3257566/taste-test-hong-kongs-first-curry-fishball-tiramisu-and-tomato-and-scrambled-egg-ice-cream?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Apr 2024 23:45:09 +0000 Famous Hong Kong actress-turned-YouTuber Dodo Cheng has made a splash after being invited to Los Angeles to conduct an exclusive interview with the leading actors and director of the movie Dune: Part Two. Cheng, 66, whose full name is Cheng Yu-ling, hosts the YouTube channel “The Do Show” that has 282,000 subscribers. She has made the city proud by becoming one of the few hosts in the world to interview the stars of the sequel to the smash hit science fiction movie, Dune. A story of family... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3252549/popular-hong-kong-host-dodo-cheng-pride-city-teaching-hollywood-heartthrob-timothee-chalamet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3252549/popular-hong-kong-host-dodo-cheng-pride-city-teaching-hollywood-heartthrob-timothee-chalamet?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:14:31 +0000 What do Cantopop icon Wan Kwong and Arthur Yuen Kwok-hang, the deputy chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), have in common? The unlikely duo has teamed up to fight against a sharp rise in financial fraud cases in Hong Kong and has produced a music video, that includes humorous sketches around common phishing tactics used by scammers. The Hong Kong Police Force said on Tuesday that the number of scam cases reported last year rose by 40 per cent over 2022 to 39,824 and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3251243/cantopop-icon-wan-kwong-and-hkma-join-forces-battle-financial-crime-hong-kong-sees-surge-scams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3251243/cantopop-icon-wan-kwong-and-hkma-join-forces-battle-financial-crime-hong-kong-sees-surge-scams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:24:50 +0000 In with the new, out with the old. With the New Year, we expect new ideas and exciting prospects in the food and hospitality industry. It also means good riddance to stale trends and tired ploys. Here are a few things I would like to see less of in 2024: 1. Alternative proteins Vegetarian dining has come a long way from tofu and lentils. Bio-entrepreneurs have now created assorted plant-based “meats”, so even vegans can partake in hamburgers, chicken salads, minced pork and seafood. The results... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3247005/6-annoying-food-trends-id-see-less-2024-truffle-everything-tomahawk-steaks-and-fake-meats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3247005/6-annoying-food-trends-id-see-less-2024-truffle-everything-tomahawk-steaks-and-fake-meats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:15:08 +0000 When many of us think about New York, we think of Gossip Girl. And who could forget “It” girl Blair Waldorf’s game-changing fashion, most memorable for the hit headpieces? The smash series was one of the very first pop culture moments that put accessories, for hair in particular, on the map. “It became something that people embraced,” says Jennifer Behr, who founded her namesake luxury accessories brand in none other than the Big Apple itself. “All those years ago, it was this challenge to build... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3245724/how-jennifer-behr-pioneered-slow-fashion-and-made-hair-accessories-cool-blair-waldorf-and-gossip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3245724/how-jennifer-behr-pioneered-slow-fashion-and-made-hair-accessories-cool-blair-waldorf-and-gossip?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Dec 2023 04:00:19 +0000 For 135 years, Carl F. Bucherer has remained laser focused on innovation, constantly refreshing what the art of luxury watchmaking can mean. In 2023, the storied Swiss company again prepared itself to face the future with a refresh of its priorities under the theme Exploring Time. It refined its products into three categories – Manero, Patravi and Heritage – and made plans to increase the number of movements it manufacturers entirely in-house, as well as its production of the peripheral... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3244215/style-edit-carl-f-bucherer-adds-hong-kong-its-annual-hometown-collection-designs-paying-tribute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3244215/style-edit-carl-f-bucherer-adds-hong-kong-its-annual-hometown-collection-designs-paying-tribute?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Dec 2023 02:00:31 +0000 Hong Kong action movie star Donnie Yen Ji-dan has been accused of employing security guards who ordered people to move out of the way on a public street at a commercial event in China. In a video filmed in Shenyang in the northeastern province of Liaoning on September 2, Yen, dressed in a khaki sportswear outfit, can be seen walking down a street towards a waiting vehicle, waving and greeting nearby spectators. He is flanked by an entourage of more than 20 uniformed security personnel. At one... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3233616/unbreakable-shield-hong-kong-action-star-donnie-yen-apologises-security-team-ordering-public-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3233616/unbreakable-shield-hong-kong-action-star-donnie-yen-apologises-security-team-ordering-public-move?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Sep 2023 01:00:16 +0000 As the online “escape room” trend sweeps China, a new genre of Hong Kong-themed games has gripped the imagination of young adults in the country’s capital Beijing. Called “Gang Feng Mi Shi“ in Chinese, the rooms not only showcase iconic cityscapes from districts and locations like Mong Kok, Nathan Road, and Lan Kwai Fong, they also incorporate plots inspired by Hong Kong gangster movies, traditional tea houses, and other cultural icons of the city. Players say they experience “strong feelings of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3230766/china-gamers-gripped-hong-kong-themed-escape-rooms-which-recreate-iconic-city-scenes-gangster-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3230766/china-gamers-gripped-hong-kong-themed-escape-rooms-which-recreate-iconic-city-scenes-gangster-film?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Aug 2023 01:00:10 +0000 Against all odds, a lucky Hong Kong woman encountered the same taxi more than a week after leaving her HK$10,000 (US$1,300) iPhone 14 Pro in it. The woman, named Tung Tung, posted in a Hong Kong lost and found Facebook group that she left her iPhone in a taxi in Kam Tin in the New Territories, a northern region in the city, on July 7, according to a local news site. She said she realised that her phone was still in the car just after she got out but claimed the driver, on seeing her try to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3228766/what-are-odds-hong-kong-woman-has-iphone-14-pro-stolen-taxi-driver-encounters-same-car-new-cabby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3228766/what-are-odds-hong-kong-woman-has-iphone-14-pro-stolen-taxi-driver-encounters-same-car-new-cabby?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jul 2023 06:00:09 +0000 A Hong Kong resident’s praise for a mainland delivery driver’s “honest and kind” work attitude has resonated online in China and highlighted the often challenging conditions these workers face. The Hong Kong woman posted on July 3 in a Facebook group about a friend who ordered groceries online from Shenzhen in southern China using the app Meituan to be delivered to the city’s border for collection. The poster said her friend unexpectedly could not meet the driver due to a personal emergency and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3228320/mainland-young-people-are-very-polite-hong-kong-customer-praises-chinese-delivery-driver-returning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3228320/mainland-young-people-are-very-polite-hong-kong-customer-praises-chinese-delivery-driver-returning?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jul 2023 03:00:19 +0000 The story of a Hong Kong woman who was tricked by her superstitious mother-in-law into drinking the ashes of burned Taoist script to help her “make a baby” has caused outrage online. The woman, who goes by the name @Waiyiuyiu, complained about her mother-in-law on a local online forum on July 5. She said her husband’s mother, with whom she had never got along, cooked soup for her when her husband was on a business trip in Macau. After finishing the soup, the woman discovered a “strange residue”... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3228079/magic-water-superstitious-mother-law-tricks-unsuspecting-hong-kong-woman-drinking-ashes-burned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3228079/magic-water-superstitious-mother-law-tricks-unsuspecting-hong-kong-woman-drinking-ashes-burned?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Jul 2023 01:00:09 +0000 A 15-second cameo by award-winning Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai in the latest music video from K-pop girl group NewJeans has generated both shock and delight online. The 61-year-old actor appears in the “Side B” version of the “Cool with You” video, released on July 19, alongside South Korean actress-model Jung Ho-yeon, who shot to fame after her acclaimed performance in the hit K-drama series Squid Game. Despite Leung’s cameo being brief, internet users were quick to recognise and get... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/bands/article/3228342/hong-kong-actor-tony-leungs-cameo-newjeans-cool-you-music-video-sets-internet-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/bands/article/3228342/hong-kong-actor-tony-leungs-cameo-newjeans-cool-you-music-video-sets-internet-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:45:15 +0000 A feel-good story about a Hong Kong taxi driver who took a mainland woman to her desired destination despite the fact that she did not have enough cash to pay the full fare has resonated with other travellers to the city, prompting them to share their pleasant experiences. The outbreak of positivity follows recent reports about tensions between locals and mainland tourists who are returning after three years of border closures during the Covid pandemic. Locals have complained that mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3227629/just-earn-little-less-hong-kong-cabbie-impresses-mainland-chinese-tourist-short-cash-waiving-part?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3227629/just-earn-little-less-hong-kong-cabbie-impresses-mainland-chinese-tourist-short-cash-waiving-part?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jul 2023 01:00:11 +0000 As the sun beams down on us and temperatures rise, it’s time to switch up our beauty routines to ensure we take the best care of our skin. However, while countless beauty treatments are available, not all are suited to the sunny season. Some procedures are better left for the colder months, as they may require healing time and limited sun exposure to work their magic. “When it comes to beauty treatments, fillers, LED therapy and radiofrequency are year-round safe options as they don’t disturb... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3227567/5-skin-treatments-you-should-avoid-during-summer-ipl-sessions-and-chemical-peels-sclerotherapy-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3227567/5-skin-treatments-you-should-avoid-during-summer-ipl-sessions-and-chemical-peels-sclerotherapy-body?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:00:28 +0000 The late pop diva Coco Lee helped an elderly farmer in central China to sell oranges so he could get home for Lunar New Year, prompting tears from 83-year-old Zhang Wanghan as he remembered her act of kindness. Lee’s death on July 5 at the age of 48 has prompted a massive outpouring of grief on mainland social media, with many recalling their encounters with the Hong Kong pop star. “I’ve always remembered her kindness. I am grateful for her. Since I did not have her telephone number, I could not... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3227157/remembering-coco-lee-tearful-tribute-chinese-farmer-83-recalls-how-late-hong-kong-star-helped-entire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3227157/remembering-coco-lee-tearful-tribute-chinese-farmer-83-recalls-how-late-hong-kong-star-helped-entire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2023 03:00:18 +0000 World-renowned Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat has voiced his deep affection for his home city and its distinct “charming and arrogant” Cantonese dialect in an interview on YouTube. Media outlet HK01 reported that the film legend made the remarks in a new episode of the YouTube programme Shu Shu De Ai (Uncle’s Love). Chow’s iconic status and illustrious career extends far beyond Hong Kong, with his notable performance in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon resonating internationally. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3226645/grow-old-hong-kong-global-movie-icon-chow-yun-fat-tells-love-home-city-and-its-charming-and-arrogant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3226645/grow-old-hong-kong-global-movie-icon-chow-yun-fat-tells-love-home-city-and-its-charming-and-arrogant?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Jul 2023 01:00:11 +0000 A giant neon sign on a recently refurbished waterfront hotel in Hong Kong has sparked heated discussions online, with some residents in the quiet residential area of Tsuen Wan criticising its bright colour. The Grand Bay View Hotel, a serviced apartment complex with 435 suites, on Tuesday defended the design on its exterior wall, which features its name in six simplified Chinese characters. The building, located on Castle Peak Road in Tsuen Wan and overlooking Tsing Ma Bridge, has been under... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3226543/giant-neon-sign-hong-kong-hotel-sparks-heated-online-debate-residents-slam-tacky-bright-colour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3226543/giant-neon-sign-hong-kong-hotel-sparks-heated-online-debate-residents-slam-tacky-bright-colour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:14:21 +0000