https://www.scmp.com/rss/518271/feed Iris Jiang holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Fudan University and a master’s degree in Global Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her areas of expertise include Chinese society and culture. She was previously an intern at Reuters and Sixth Tone in Shanghai and speaks English and Mandarin. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A woman in China was shocked to discover that she had been secretly filmed during breast augmentation surgery after she recognised herself in a video that was being shared widely online. The woman, surnamed Gao, underwent a breast enlargement procedure at a cosmetic surgery hospital in Henan province, central China, in January. Five months later, she was shocked to discover a video of herself, alongside several other women, circulating on Douyin, China’s TikTok. The footage showed Gao... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3270261/outcry-china-breast-implant-woman-discovers-video-operation-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3270261/outcry-china-breast-implant-woman-discovers-video-operation-online?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Growing numbers of pet owners in China are spending huge amounts to send their animal companions to “kindergartens” when they are at work. As well as all-round day care, such places also offer etiquette training and hobby development courses. At one pet kindergarten in Beijing, the etiquette course not only teaches pets basic commands but includes social skills training, teaching pets group interaction, handshaking, and even playing dead. According to a report by the mainland news outlet,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3270085/busy-china-pet-owners-fork-out-hard-earned-cash-kindergarten-courses-fur-babies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3270085/busy-china-pet-owners-fork-out-hard-earned-cash-kindergarten-courses-fur-babies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:13:46 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A fresh graduate in China has turned himself into a walking advertisement by printing his resume on a T-shirt, delighting online observers. Song Jiale, 21, recently earned a bachelor’s degree from Wuhan University’s School of Geomatics in Hubei province, central China. Before starting his postgraduate studies, Song sought an internship but was unsuccessful despite numerous applications. Taking inspiration from elderly locals in his hometown in Henan province in central China, who often walk... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3270029/job-hunting-china-graduate-turns-walking-advert-bid-land-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3270029/job-hunting-china-graduate-turns-walking-advert-bid-land-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jul 2024 08:00:13 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Ahead of the sequel to a hit Chinese animated film featuring a beloved stray cat called Luo Xiaohei, the creator has been slammed for abandoning the animal that inspired the feline character. Zhang Ping, 39, an artist known by his pen name MTJJ, rose to fame in the 2010s as one of the country’s most successful cartoonists, thanks to his animated version of the cat. The cartoon kitty, with its huge round eyes and pointed ears, was modelled after a stray black cat Zhang adopted. Starting in 2011,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269891/china-cartoon-creator-slammed-dumping-adopted-cat-inspired-his-hit-movie-kitty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269891/china-cartoon-creator-slammed-dumping-adopted-cat-inspired-his-hit-movie-kitty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A special summer treat is bugging out mainland social media – the eating of cicadas. In Zhejiang province, southeastern China, a vendor has claimed she sells 100kg of the insects a day and earns more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) doing so. Peeled versions can sell for more than 800 yuan (US$110) a kilo. They also come fried, braised, and sautéed in garlic. The Post takes a closer look at this creepy, crawly culinary phenomenon. Cooking Eating cicadas is popular in several Chinese regions,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3269731/why-cicadas-are-popular-among-daring-foodies-china-and-are-consumed-delicacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3269731/why-cicadas-are-popular-among-daring-foodies-china-and-are-consumed-delicacy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A bitter labour dispute in China has seen a company confine an employee to a “small dark room” for four days in a draconian bid to make him resign. In an unusual twist, the incident came to light not via the employee but the company, Guangzhou Duoyi Network Co. Ltd, after they challenged a court ruling on the case. The firm published the full court document on its official Weibo account, openly disagreeing with a ruling made in May by a district-level court in Sichuan province, southwestern... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3269623/china-firm-confines-worker-small-dark-room-4-days-no-power-computer-or-phone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3269623/china-firm-confines-worker-small-dark-room-4-days-no-power-computer-or-phone?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:00:09 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A secondary school in central China is facing criticism after a video emerged of employees forcing students to eat while standing next to a table, separating them by gender. The school canteen in Henan province was equipped with rows of tables without chairs that required the students to stand and hunch over as they ate, according to a viral video on Douyin, China’s TikTok. The video was uploaded by a part-time employee, surnamed Li, who attends Donghua University in Shanghai, and was visiting... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3269696/school-china-makes-students-stand-eat-canteen-separating-boys-girls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3269696/school-china-makes-students-stand-eat-canteen-separating-boys-girls?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:15:08 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Scientist Sophie Bai, known in China as Bai Xuefei, is making waves in the United States’ skincare market. The 34-year-old former healthcare and life sciences investor from Henan province in central China applies her expertise in biomedicine to develop cutting-edge products for her company, B.A.I. Biosciences. Bai has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she worked with Professor Robert Langer, co-founder of the pharmaceutical... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269022/who-sophie-bai-china-scientist-planet-named-after-her-creates-us-skincare-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269022/who-sophie-bai-china-scientist-planet-named-after-her-creates-us-skincare-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:19:44 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A seven-year-old boy on a crowded train in China, who was reading about a subject considered far beyond his age group, was spotted by a professor from Peking University, who invited him to visit the institution. Sitting on the floor, the boy, who has not been identified, was deeply engrossed in a book titled Murphy’s Law, a psychological text famous for producing the saying, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”. The book outlines a range of psychological and sociological principles. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3269271/china-professor-spots-boy-reading-murphys-law-book-train-asks-him-visit-top-university?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3269271/china-professor-spots-boy-reading-murphys-law-book-train-asks-him-visit-top-university?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 02:00:09 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Superstar singer and actor Andy Lau Tak-wah has apologised to his army of fans after he performed a risky stunt during a concert in China. At the event in Shanghai, 62-year-old Lau slid up to the edge of an elevated platform on his knees without any safety equipment or measures in place. The platform was about three to four meters above ground, according to fans at the July 5 concert. Dressed in a suit, Hong Kong icon Lau ran and knee-slid towards the edge of a raised platform to interact with a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269607/hong-kong-superstar-andy-lau-apologises-fans-dangerous-stunt-during-china-concert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269607/hong-kong-superstar-andy-lau-apologises-fans-dangerous-stunt-during-china-concert?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:55:56 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang The latest hiking craze on South Korea’s highest peak, Mount Hallasan – enjoying a cup of noodles when reaching the frigid summit – is posing a threat to the mountain’s environment. The trend, which has caught fire on South Korean social media, involves hikers taking about four hours to reach the 1,700-metre-high Witse Oreum point on the mountain and then relishing noodles. The snack has been dubbed by enthusiasts as “the best instant noodles in the world” after the arduous journey. Situated on... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3268891/spicy-instant-noodles-threaten-south-koreas-highest-peak-litter-bugs-snack-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3268891/spicy-instant-noodles-threaten-south-koreas-highest-peak-litter-bugs-snack-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jul 2024 06:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang An online influencer in China who is famous for sharing his inspirational fitness journey with millions will take part in a mass public participation marathon event during this year’s Paris Olympics. Shen Haoze, 34, who lives in Zhejiang province, southeastern China, rose to fame in 2017 after he shed 20kg in a year through marathon training, attracting 8 million followers on social media. Over the past seven years, the employee of a state-owned enterprise, has dedicated himself to promoting the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269264/meet-shen-haoze-china-fitness-kol-8-million-fans-makes-olympic-public-marathon-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3269264/meet-shen-haoze-china-fitness-kol-8-million-fans-makes-olympic-public-marathon-event?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jul 2024 03:00:15 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Young women in China are rejecting high heels, makeup, diets, and other appearance-focused traditions because they view them as costly and unfair. Instead, they are embracing buzz-cut hairstyles, loose clothing, and natural, cosmetic-free looks. The trend, known as “escape beauty duty” or tuo mei yi in Mandarin, emerged last year and content about it has garnered more than 21 million views on Xiaohongshu. The term is derived from the Chinese word yi, typically used to describe hard labour duty... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3268405/what-escape-beauty-duty-china-women-shun-societal-pressure-choose-natural-looks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3268405/what-escape-beauty-duty-china-women-shun-societal-pressure-choose-natural-looks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jul 2024 02:10:08 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A tutor and online influencer is one of the most-watched figures among anxious parents navigating China’s most competitive college entrance exam. Zhang Zibiao, known as Zhang Xuefeng, has 30 million followers and has amassed a fortune of at least US$100 million as the country’s most successful extracurricular tutor. The 40-year-old from Heilongjiang province in northeastern China leverages the pressure to succeed in gaokao, widely considered the most important exam Chinese students will face in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3267449/secrets-top-china-tutor-zhang-xuefeng-worth-least-us100-million-has-30-million-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3267449/secrets-top-china-tutor-zhang-xuefeng-worth-least-us100-million-has-30-million-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jul 2024 01:07:40 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang China’s first woman Arctic crab fisher, who works 12 hours a day on a “prison” ship for 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) a month, has been praised online for her resilience in the face of harsh conditions. Liu Yifan, 30, from Guizhou province in southwestern China, left a secure job at a state-owned Chinese enterprise three years ago to join her husband in Tromsø, a port city in northern Norway. She initially took up a hotel job but in January through the introduction of local friends, she decided to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3266540/defiant-woman-becomes-chinas-first-female-arctic-crab-fisher-earns-us18000-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3266540/defiant-woman-becomes-chinas-first-female-arctic-crab-fisher-earns-us18000-month?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:01:14 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang We all know that feeling at the end of a hard working day, a mixture of mental fatigue and physical exhaustion envelopes your being. But what does it smell like? Well, the term ban wei, or “smell of work” has been invented on social media in China to describe it. The Post explains. The smell Ban wei can evoke the bitter taste of iced Americano coffee, the stench of sweat, the lingering scent of cigarette smoke and the whiff of “dangling a carrot” symbolising empty promises from the boss. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263594/what-smell-work-china-youth-invent-new-term-describe-whiff-exploitation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263594/what-smell-work-china-youth-invent-new-term-describe-whiff-exploitation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:00:09 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang An experienced diver from China has earned praise on mainland social media for his thoughtful actions. The man, surnamed You, from Shandong province in the east of the country, discovered 11 sealed urns underwater, each tied with a brightly coloured ribbon, which seemed to be part of a sea burial. He believed the urns, which were located in shallow water close to the shore, were at risk of exposure at low tide. The diver was also concerned that less experienced divers visiting the area at night,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3266742/china-diver-finds-sea-burial-urns-relocates-them-deeper-water-avoid-accidents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3266742/china-diver-finds-sea-burial-urns-relocates-them-deeper-water-avoid-accidents?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang In a neighbourhood in Zhejiang province, eastern China, a man’s decision to use three parking spaces for his son’s expensive toy cars has sparked a heated debate online. The man, surnamed Zhao, bought three adjacent spaces in a shared underground garage, along with his flat, according to Guang Ming Daily. The spots were left empty for a while after Zhao bought them. However, as the neighbourhood grew and parking spaces became scarce, other residents frequently used them. To protect his... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267164/man-china-fills-parking-spaces-sons-expensive-toy-cars-security-guards-trash-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267164/man-china-fills-parking-spaces-sons-expensive-toy-cars-security-guards-trash-them?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2024 11:07:54 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A court in Shanghai charged a Chinese man with fraud for stealing 2.6 million yuan (US$360,000) from his girlfriend after he posed as a doctor at a top-tier hospital. The man, surnamed Zhang, was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison and fined 250,000 yuan (US$35,000) for the crime. The court disclosed the case in May but did not specify the dates of the crime. Zhang, who actually worked at a hotel, started the fraud in 2016 when he was introduced to Huang, who worked at a shopping... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265279/chinese-man-poses-doctor-dupes-girlfriend-out-us360000-pair-often-meet-hospital-grounds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265279/chinese-man-poses-doctor-dupes-girlfriend-out-us360000-pair-often-meet-hospital-grounds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2024 12:15:07 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A military-style “training camp” in southern China sparked online controversy for the ruthless hardships it places on its young campers, with some describing it as “devil training”. Footage from the camp leaked online, including one video of a camp counsellor forcibly submerging an 11-year-old boy’s head underwater while the child attempted to swim with his hands tied behind his back. The instructor yelled “faster, faster” as the boy flailed, struggling to gather momentum. The brutal swimming... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266215/china-instructor-grabs-swimming-child-pushes-head-water-claims-helps-conquer-inhibitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266215/china-instructor-grabs-swimming-child-pushes-head-water-claims-helps-conquer-inhibitions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2024 08:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A hospital in central China is under fire after a film crew reportedly asked a grieving family to lower the volume of their crying in order to “not disrupt the filming”. The family’s mother, who was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment, passed away later that evening. The incident took place at Hopeshine Minsheng Hospital in Henan province on May 31. Yu, a family member who did not disclose his full name, posted a video clip of the incident online. The video showed the film crew... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266219/film-crew-shooting-inside-china-hospital-icu-tells-grieving-family-cry-softly-sparking-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266219/film-crew-shooting-inside-china-hospital-icu-tells-grieving-family-cry-softly-sparking-public?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2024 06:00:11 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A Catholic church in Thailand is being mocked after a group of altar boys was given haircuts that mimicked the appearance of traditional Catholic friars. The haircut, called a “coronal tonsure”, involves shaving the top of the head completely bald while leaving a ring of hair around the fringes. This style preserves the hair on the sides and the bangs, resembling a crown. It is also called the Roman or Petrine tonsure and is named after Saint Peter. After images of the boys’ haircuts emerged... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267031/thai-catholic-church-under-fire-giving-students-friar-tuck-embarrassing-haircuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267031/thai-catholic-church-under-fire-giving-students-friar-tuck-embarrassing-haircuts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jun 2024 11:00:09 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A fashion designer in China has claimed that Lisa – the Thai rapper and dancer in the K-pop band Blackpink – wore a star-shaped top which “copied” her design in a newly released music video. Yang Yue, a makeup artist and fashion designer from Beijing, made the accusation on the social media platform Xiaohongshu, China’s Instagram. The controversy has blown up to such an extent that the subject has trended on Weibo, attracting more than 130 million views. “Not only did they copy it, the cut is... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3268430/china-designer-claims-blackpinks-lisa-copied-her-top-video-sparks-intense-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3268430/china-designer-claims-blackpinks-lisa-copied-her-top-video-sparks-intense-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Jun 2024 04:00:21 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Actress Jaylin Ye has made history by becoming the first Chinese transgender female character to appear on British television with her debut in the Amazon Prime series Dead Hot. The six-episode comedy thriller follows friends and amateur detectives Jess and Elliott as they investigate the disappearance of Peter, Jess’s twin brother, and the love of Elliott’s life. Ye plays Karis, Elliott’s college friend, who joins the team in the third episode. Her performance has been praised as “downright... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3268289/transgender-china-actress-makes-historic-debut-uk-television-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3268289/transgender-china-actress-makes-historic-debut-uk-television-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Jun 2024 02:00:11 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang In a playful twist on tradition, a bride in Taiwan tossed a toy M16 rifle out of the window of her wedding car instead of the customary paper fan, attracting much attention on social media. The bride, surnamed Chen, and the groom, Zhang, wanted to give their nuptials on June 15 a unique touch, according to the news network ETtoday. A video clip shows a smiling Chen in a traditional red dress and veil as she prepared to leave her parents’ home. Before the car left, she playfully threw out the toy... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266950/taiwan-bride-throws-tradition-out-window-swapping-paper-fan-machine-gun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266950/taiwan-bride-throws-tradition-out-window-swapping-paper-fan-machine-gun?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:00:11 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang The heartwarming story of a man from China who lost and found his “toy child” companion while travelling in Spain has touched many people on mainland social media. The 20-something man called his plush sloth toy “Bread” and referred to himself as the “Bread Village Mayor”. Among other things, he celebrated the toy’s birthdays, placed it by his bedside every night, and regarded it as part of his family. He lost it on June 9 when at the Sagrada Familia metro station in Barcelona. It is suspected... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267205/lost-and-found-comfort-toy-tale-distraught-china-tourist-spain-melts-online-hearts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267205/lost-and-found-comfort-toy-tale-distraught-china-tourist-spain-melts-online-hearts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang An entrepreneur from China has set up a thriving business in Sweden selling traditional Lanzhou beef ramen from his hometown on the mainland. Zhou Yan, 31, from Gansu province in north-central China, opened the Ox Lan Beef Noodle eatery in the country’s capital, Stockholm, on March 25 and quickly attracted local customers. He is now earning one million yuan (US$140,000) a month. The restaurant is so popular that Zhou had to add extra outdoor seating to accommodate the overflow. “On peak days, we... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265266/china-businessman-bowls-over-sweden-hometown-beef-ramen-noodles-earns-us140000-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265266/china-businessman-bowls-over-sweden-hometown-beef-ramen-noodles-earns-us140000-month?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:00:11 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Talking about sex is one of the most difficult conversations parents and children can have, so a Singaporean company has set out to reduce the embarrassment. A commercial released by the Singapore telecoms company Circles.Life has stirred controversy for showing a mother respecting her son’s desire to watch pornography. As part of an advertising campaign aimed at breaking norms and challenging stigmas, the 20-second clip received a mixed and confused response. The video begins with a mother... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3266314/singapore-telecoms-firm-mired-controversy-over-porn-promoting-advert-youngsters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3266314/singapore-telecoms-firm-mired-controversy-over-porn-promoting-advert-youngsters?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:08 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A burned-out tech employee in China decided to quit his job and start a fruit e-commerce business. Now the 32-year-old earns two million yuan (US$280,000) a month selling green bananas. Lin’s success came as a result of turning a social media wellness trend – selling green bananas as symbols of “stress relief” – into a business opportunity. The marketing strategy involves a play on words in which the phrase “stop banana green” in Chinese sounds similar to “stop anxiety”. Bananas are sold while... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265166/burned-out-china-worker-quits-job-earn-us280000-month-selling-green-bananas-stress-relievers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265166/burned-out-china-worker-quits-job-earn-us280000-month-selling-green-bananas-stress-relievers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang An American vlogger in China has shot to fame on mainland social media – and attracted the interest of celebrities – with his invention of the “city or not city” meme. Among the stars Shanghai resident Paul Mike Ashton has grabbed the interest of are Richie Jen Hsien-chi and Ada Choi Siu-fan. Known as “Hug Hug Bear” or Bao Bao Xiong in Chinese, Ashton captured viral attention with a vlog during a visit to the Great Wall in Beijing with his sister, garnering more than 380,000 likes on Douyin,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3267946/foreign-vlogger-china-goes-viral-city-or-not-city-meme-imitated-celebrities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3267946/foreign-vlogger-china-goes-viral-city-or-not-city-meme-imitated-celebrities?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2024 03:00:09 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A forensic facial expert is under fire in China after his digital facial reconstruction of one of the world’s best-preserved mummies bore a striking resemblance to himself. Yuan Zhongbiao, the expert responsible for the facial reconstruction, admitted that Lady Dai’s face had badly decomposed by the time she was unearthed, and the team could only use X-ray images of the mummy for reference. The 3D digital representation of the mummy, Lady Dai, was released on May 17 and featured depictions of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266697/chinas-lady-dai-mummy-embroiled-controversy-latest-3d-facial-reconstruction-resembles-project-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3266697/chinas-lady-dai-mummy-embroiled-controversy-latest-3d-facial-reconstruction-resembles-project-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:00:11 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang An order by the Singapore authorities to erase a cigarette from a Chinatown mural has sparked an online controversy about street art censorship. The mural, which depicted a young Samsui woman holding a smoking cigarette, was completed in early April, according to The Straits Times of Singapore. The city state’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) told the landlord in an e-mail dated May 8 that the mural is “not aligned with Singapore’s anti-smoking policy stance”. In a subsequent email on June... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267793/censorship-fears-singapore-moves-scrub-offensive-cigarette-chinatown-mural?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267793/censorship-fears-singapore-moves-scrub-offensive-cigarette-chinatown-mural?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 01:00:15 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A tourist from China has told how she managed to escape a deadly flood in Kenya by spending 12 hours up a tree, losing all her luggage before emerging from the raging water wearing just a T-shirt and underwear. The woman’s will to survive has wowed mainland social media. Liu Jiatu, 28, who lives in Thailand, was caught in the flood at the famous Masai Mara tourist destination on May 1. Heavier than usual rainfall had pounded Eastern Africa due to the combined effects of El Niño and the long... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3265123/china-tourist-survives-killer-kenya-floods-clinging-tree-her-underwear-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/environment/article/3265123/china-tourist-survives-killer-kenya-floods-clinging-tree-her-underwear-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A pregnant woman in Thailand staged her own kidnap with loan sharks she owed money to, so she could use her husband’s savings to pay off her debt. The bizarre turn of events began when a woman, who was living in Samut Prakan province in central Thailand, took 80,000 Thai baht (US$2,200) from her husband’s bank account under the guise of a ransom demand on May 30, reported Thailand World Daily. She told her husband she was leaving their home to photocopy documents. Shortly after that, her husband... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3265416/pregnant-woman-thailand-fakes-own-kidnapping-help-loan-sharks-access-husbands-money?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3265416/pregnant-woman-thailand-fakes-own-kidnapping-help-loan-sharks-access-husbands-money?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:00:11 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A photo studio chain in Japan has sparked a public backlash for its “terrible” attempt to boost Father’s Day revenue by getting girls to wear bridal gowns and pose as “Daddy’s little bride”. The move, which has also been criticised online, is an attempt to raise Father’s Day revenues to levels similar to that of the much more lucrative Mother’s Day. Happily Photo Studio, a chain with 20 outlets across Japan, titles the marketing push “Daddy’s Little Bride” which involves daughters dressing up in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267504/terrible-japan-studio-slated-daddys-little-bride-fathers-day-photo-shoots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3267504/terrible-japan-studio-slated-daddys-little-bride-fathers-day-photo-shoots?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2024 03:00:13 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A couple in China who believed their son had died shortly after he was born, discovered more than three decades later that he was actually alive and well. Zhang Huaiyuan, 33, raised in a poverty-stricken rural village in Anhui province, eastern China, was shocked to discover that he was adopted and that his biological parents were wealthy merchants from Zhejiang province in southeastern China. Doctors told Zhang’s birth parents he was dead because he was born prematurely, but he had in fact been... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264807/china-couple-shocked-discover-dead-son-alive-after-33-years-was-raised-infertile-relative-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264807/china-couple-shocked-discover-dead-son-alive-after-33-years-was-raised-infertile-relative-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2024 01:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A man in Singapore who lived in the same flat as his father went on doing so unaware that the older man had been dead for three days. On May 23, Riduan, a 41-year-old cleaner, discovered his 63-year-old father’s body, covered in blood and riddled with maggots, in their shared home in Hougang, northeastern Singapore, the news outlet Shin Min Daily News reported. He became aware after noticing a foul smell coming from his father’s locked bedroom. Riduan had last seen him three days before when the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3264490/foul-smell-leads-singapore-man-find-blood-soaked-father-63-slumped-toilet-floor-3-days-after-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3264490/foul-smell-leads-singapore-man-find-blood-soaked-father-63-slumped-toilet-floor-3-days-after-death?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jun 2024 06:00:10 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang Trailblazing Chinese parkour practitioner Zhang Lei, who was a stunt double for Hong Kong acting star Donnie Yen Ji-dan, has died at the age of 39 following a heart attack. Zhang died in Beijing at 11am on June 12 after treatment for his condition was unsuccessful, according to The Beijing Extreme Sports Association. A tribute issued by the association described Zhang as “a true parkour enthusiast who dedicated his life to the sport”. Zhang served as the stunt double for Yen in several films... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3267068/zhang-lei-china-parkour-expert-donnie-yen-stunt-double-dead-39-heart-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3267068/zhang-lei-china-parkour-expert-donnie-yen-stunt-double-dead-39-heart-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:00:12 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A barbecue restaurant in China has come under fire after a video surfaced online showing an employee spraying paint on barbecue skewers. Footage of the food outlet in Guiyang, Guizhou province in southwestern China raised concerns over food safety because the spray visibly landed on the meat. “The staff even wore gloves to protect their hands while spraying. Did they not think about the paint getting on the meat?” one online observer said. “Perhaps they were using liquid nitrogen to keep the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264218/toxic-shock-china-restaurant-filmed-spraying-cancer-causing-paint-bbq-meat-skewer-sticks-identify?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3264218/toxic-shock-china-restaurant-filmed-spraying-cancer-causing-paint-bbq-meat-skewer-sticks-identify?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:00:11 +0000 Amidst the glitz and glamour of season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, a beacon of vibrant yellow stood out. Nymphia Wind, the drag persona of 28-year-old fashion designer Leo Tsao, was just about to experience her moment of triumph decades in the making. Donning a bright yellow bikini and miniskirt, she was about to become the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race from East Asia in the show’s 15-year history. Only seven people from Asia have made it to RuPaul’s top four since the show premiered in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3265136/taiwan-drag-queen-nymphia-wind-first-asia-win-reality-tv-contest-rupauls-drag-race-show-premiered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3265136/taiwan-drag-queen-nymphia-wind-first-asia-win-reality-tv-contest-rupauls-drag-race-show-premiered?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2024 01:00:12 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A woman in Taiwan who stopped consuming traditional Chinese medicinal dried goods because she thought she had been duped and they were made of plastic, has had her fears allayed. Her worries, which surfaced after the goods had been soaked in medicinal wine for more than a decade, and were emitting a plastic smell, prompted public concern. This caused experts to inspect and confirm the authenticity of the products. On June 3, Liu Xuemei was shocked to find that the ingredients submerged in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265921/experts-called-after-taiwan-woman-panics-thinks-medicinal-dried-seahorses-are-plastic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3265921/experts-called-after-taiwan-woman-panics-thinks-medicinal-dried-seahorses-are-plastic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jun 2024 01:00:24 +0000 Iris Jiang Iris Jiang A new wellness trend on TikTok called the Rage Ritual is gaining traction among women across the globe because of its unconventional approach to releasing anger. Woman participants in the activity – which originated in Scotland – scream, cry and beat sticks on the ground in woodland areas. “Rage has been demonised, especially in the feminine,” said organiser Mia Banducci on her YouTube channel Mia Magik. She begins sessions with breathing exercises, then encourages participants to release hidden... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3263460/trending-rage-rituals-tiktok-see-women-pay-scream-smash-sticks-woods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3263460/trending-rage-rituals-tiktok-see-women-pay-scream-smash-sticks-woods?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jun 2024 01:00:54 +0000 Burned-out young workers in China have found yet another novel way of alleviating workplace stress – cultivating bananas in the office. Employee cultivators of the fruit describe the process by which it ripens as “stop banana green”, or ting zhi jiao lu, in Mandarin, which sounds similar to “stop anxiety” in English. The trend gained popularity on Xiaohongshu, China’s Instagram, where related posts have attracted more than 22,000 likes. The anxiety-busting bananas are typically bought when they... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263316/going-bananas-stressed-out-china-office-staff-cultivate-desktop-fruit-battle-workplace-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263316/going-bananas-stressed-out-china-office-staff-cultivate-desktop-fruit-battle-workplace-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jun 2024 06:05:08 +0000 A US-based Chinese TikTok influencer is under fire in mainland China for “reinforcing Asian stereotypes” after she posted a video of her changing costumes while using body movements that incorporated traditional cultural dress and makeup. Lucia Liu initially posted the video on TikTok on May 4, and it has since received 16.3 million views and 2.2 million likes. It features multiple costume changes that include a large variety of Chinese cultural outfits ranging from a cheongsam, an armoured... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3264955/china-kol-58-million-fans-criticised-costume-makeup-transformation-video-reinforces-asian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3264955/china-kol-58-million-fans-criticised-costume-makeup-transformation-video-reinforces-asian?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jun 2024 06:00:10 +0000 A TikTok influencer had to be rushed to hospital after consuming a type of spicy ramen known as Buldak or “fire chicken” in Korean, every week for six months. US-based Lucy Mourad, 24, developed kidney stones and blood poisoning triggered by her obsession with this type of instant ramen. However, her dash to accident and emergency has not stopped millions around the world from enjoying the product made by South Korean brand, Samyang. Enthusiasts for the dish include American singer Cardi B and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3262468/what-are-korean-buldak-fire-noodles-spicy-ramen-tickles-taste-buds-worldwide-deliciously-addictive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3262468/what-are-korean-buldak-fire-noodles-spicy-ramen-tickles-taste-buds-worldwide-deliciously-addictive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 May 2024 06:00:10 +0000 A new “ugly-friendly” AI-powered filter is taking China’s social media by storm. The artificial intelligence filter transforms portraits into “ugly-cute” clay sculpture images that look like characters from stop-motion animation films such as Wallace and Gromit or Shaun the Sheep. Remini, the photo editor app that launched the filter, topped China’s free app rankings with about 400,000 daily downloads in the seven days from April 30 to May 6. The momentum was boosted by the country’s five-day... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3262768/why-ugly-ai-filter-taking-china-social-media-storm-unmasking-its-rationale-mental-health-benefits-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3262768/why-ugly-ai-filter-taking-china-social-media-storm-unmasking-its-rationale-mental-health-benefits-it?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 May 2024 01:00:37 +0000 A photo of two tourists allowing their child to urinate on a path near a sacred site in Thailand has sparked an online debate. The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall is a part of the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok, a former residence of the Thai Royal family, which is now frequently used for ceremonies and national events. It is one of the country’s most popular and most important tourist attractions. The image, which went viral on Douyin as well as Facebook and TikTok, shows a little girl of about... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3262746/anger-china-couple-let-daughter-urinate-near-thai-palace-follows-case-chinese-tourists-please-keep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3262746/anger-china-couple-let-daughter-urinate-near-thai-palace-follows-case-chinese-tourists-please-keep?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 May 2024 01:00:09 +0000 Retirement homes in China are not just for the elderly, as a new trend has emerged of burned-out professionals seeking a place where they can “retire” extremely early, typically in their 30s. The facilities embrace lifestyle philosophies such as “Fire” (financial independence, retire early) or “lying flat”, the famous Chinese phrase referring to the life approach to do the bare minimum to get by. The “nursing homes for the youth” are not unique to tier-one cities and can be found in provinces as... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263560/why-are-china-young-professionals-so-eager-live-nursing-homes-facilities-enable-lying-flat-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263560/why-are-china-young-professionals-so-eager-live-nursing-homes-facilities-enable-lying-flat-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 10:00:09 +0000 A German man currently in Thailand who looks like Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves – best known for his role as hitman John Wick – has become an overnight star in the country and a global hit online. A series of recent TikTok videos posted by user @Tuktiklife, the Reeves lookalike is seen riding a motorcycle wearing loose-fitting cotton trousers, commonly known as elephant pants, to sell grilled cuttlefish. The videos have attracted more than 6 million views. They are captioned “Everything’s got a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3264250/hollywood-superstar-keanu-reeves-double-thailand-videos-attract-6-million-tiktok-views-spark-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3264250/hollywood-superstar-keanu-reeves-double-thailand-videos-attract-6-million-tiktok-views-spark-media?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 01:00:55 +0000 A real-life version of the movie plot for Her has played out on social media after a Chinese woman living in California in the US said she fell in love with her ChatGPT chatbot named “DAN”. The woman, whose first name is Lisa, amassed over 880,000 followers on Xiaohongshu, China’s Instagram-like platform, as she described how she fell in love with ChatGPT’s “Do Anything Now” (DAN) mode. Lisa officially started using DAN in March, and the text conversation became increasingly sensual over the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263280/chinese-woman-goes-viral-falling-love-chatbot-has-romantic-talks-goes-beach-date-introduces-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3263280/chinese-woman-goes-viral-falling-love-chatbot-has-romantic-talks-goes-beach-date-introduces-him?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 May 2024 06:00:09 +0000