https://www.scmp.com/rss/518935/feed Joanne joined SCMP in June 2024. She is currently an English and Film Studies student at the University of St Andrews. She has long been interested in art and cultural global trends, and has experience working in PR agencies, film festivals, student film productions and campus publications. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com This is the fifth in a series of articles about classical Chinese instruments and the traditional Chinese music orchestra, in which we explore how musicians play the eight different types of instrument, and their history. The drum is one of the things early humans all had in common, whether they were in Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt or China 5,000 years ago. A collection of clay drums at the National Museum of China dates back to the Majiayao culture (circa 3800BC-2000BC) that was based in what is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3279566/all-about-chinese-drum-orchestra-essential-once-seen-way-talk-gods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3279566/all-about-chinese-drum-orchestra-essential-once-seen-way-talk-gods?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:15:07 +0000 This is the fourth in a series of articles about classical Chinese instruments and the traditional Chinese music orchestra, in which we explore how musicians play the eight different types of instrument, and their history. Clay, a versatile material that turns into all kinds of objects when married with water and fire, is most often associated with pottery, which has thousands of years of history in China and other parts of the world. Less well known are the musical instruments made of clay... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3278087/all-about-chinese-clay-flute-its-ancient-origins-studio-ghibli-inspiration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3278087/all-about-chinese-clay-flute-its-ancient-origins-studio-ghibli-inspiration?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Sep 2024 03:15:07 +0000 Take a bite out of history with our exclusive series on the delicious ingredients, dishes and techniques behind the unique taste of Hong Kong. With a rich umami broth, springy instant ramen noodles and tender marinated meat slices, beef satay noodles represent comfort in a bowl for many Hongkongers. The dish can be found mostly on the breakfast menus of cha chaan teng, Hong Kong-style cafes or diners, but can be eaten at any time of the day. It is usually paired with toast, eggs, and a drink on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3278361/how-beef-satay-noodles-comfort-food-southeast-asian-roots-became-hong-kong-fave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3278361/how-beef-satay-noodles-comfort-food-southeast-asian-roots-became-hong-kong-fave?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Sep 2024 05:15:08 +0000 This is the third in a series of articles about classical Chinese instruments and the traditional Chinese music orchestra, in which we explore how musicians play the eight different types of instrument, and their history. Those who watch Chinese palace dramas may be familiar with the percussive sounds produced by metal Chinese instruments. These instruments frequently set the tone in ceremonial and battle scenes, and are employed to assert a character’s dominance. “Metal” is one of eight... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3277423/all-about-chinese-chime-bells-and-gongs-classical-musical-instruments-long-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3277423/all-about-chinese-chime-bells-and-gongs-classical-musical-instruments-long-history?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Sep 2024 10:15:07 +0000 This is the second in a series of articles about classical Chinese instruments and the traditional Chinese music orchestra, in which we explore how musicians play the eight different types of instrument, and their history. For most people, gourds are for eating, not for making musical instruments, but in Chinese music, gourds are one of the eight categories of instruments and produce some of the most essential sounds in a modern orchestra such as the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. The category,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3275869/how-traditional-chinese-instruments-sheng-and-chinese-bagpipes-make-music-using-gourds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3275869/how-traditional-chinese-instruments-sheng-and-chinese-bagpipes-make-music-using-gourds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Aug 2024 04:30:10 +0000 Edinburgh sits at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, with its cobblestone streets featuring a blend of Neoclassical architecture, new vintage-style cafes and rolling green spaces. The quaint capital of Scotland is also a thriving international arts and cultural hub. Its annual Edinburgh Festival – in fact a collection of 11 festivals – draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year; the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which this year runs from August 2 to 26, alone drew nearly 250,000... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3275634/how-new-hong-kong-immigrants-edinburgh-are-enjoying-its-vibrant-arts-and-culture-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3275634/how-new-hong-kong-immigrants-edinburgh-are-enjoying-its-vibrant-arts-and-culture-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Aug 2024 10:15:10 +0000 This is the sixth article in a six-part series on Gen Z and mental health, in which we look at some of the conditions they are experiencing, including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. We talk to Gen Zs who share their stories, and to experts for their advice on ways to recover and thrive. When Dr Ken Fung, a clinical psychologist working in Hong Kong, spoke to the Post recently, he had just met a family whose child has oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The mother, he says, described... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3275556/how-do-you-help-gen-z-oppositional-defiant-disorder-hong-kong-psychologists-explain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3275556/how-do-you-help-gen-z-oppositional-defiant-disorder-hong-kong-psychologists-explain?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Aug 2024 03:15:15 +0000 This article serves as an introduction to our upcoming series on classical Chinese instruments and the traditional Chinese music orchestra, in which we will show you how musicians play the eight different types of instrument and explore their history. China, Hong Kong and Asian countries with large Chinese populations such as Singapore and Malaysia all have professional orchestras specialising in Chinese instruments. These instruments, and the classical Chinese music they play, sound quite... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3275049/history-chinese-musical-instruments-and-how-they-fit-modern-orchestra-overview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3275049/history-chinese-musical-instruments-and-how-they-fit-modern-orchestra-overview?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2024 03:15:20 +0000 The tale of Dorothy and her friends in The Wizard of Oz occupies a special place in Septime Webre’s childhood memories. When he was 12, he and his siblings developed an extravagant puppet theatre show about Dorothy’s adventure with the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and their encounter with the Wicked Witch of the West. They took the show on the road, performing in nursing homes, schools and churches across South Texas, where the family were living. The choreographer, whose ballet... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3274860/artistic-director-hong-kong-ballet-over-top-characters-his-wizard-oz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3274860/artistic-director-hong-kong-ballet-over-top-characters-his-wizard-oz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Aug 2024 09:15:08 +0000 The name Mr Cheesecake might be familiar among dessert enthusiasts. Founded in 2018 by Koji Tamura, its product has been dubbed the “The Best Cheesecake of Your Life” and has captured the hearts of Japanese people and dessert lovers worldwide. The buzz surrounding Tamura’s cheesecakes reached Hong Kong earlier this year. When its pop-up store at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui opened on March 2 – it closes on September 30 – there were long queues of people waiting for a taste, some who remembered... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3274398/how-mr-cheesecake-chef-created-exclusive-milk-tea-flavour-its-hong-kong-pop-store?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3274398/how-mr-cheesecake-chef-created-exclusive-milk-tea-flavour-its-hong-kong-pop-store?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Aug 2024 04:49:36 +0000 This is the fourth article in a six-part series on Gen Z and mental health, in which we look at some of the conditions they are experiencing, including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. We talk to Gen Zs who share their stories, and to experts for their advice on ways to recover and thrive. In 2016, when Natalie Chung was in high school in Hong Kong, she started to feel disappointed that she was not skinny enough. “I was not fat at all, but I wanted to look like those Instagram models... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3273714/how-gen-z-are-risk-eating-disorders-hong-kong-women-tell-their-difficult-stories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3273714/how-gen-z-are-risk-eating-disorders-hong-kong-women-tell-their-difficult-stories?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Aug 2024 23:45:09 +0000 Learn the ins and outs of feng shui, villain hitting, and fortunetelling as well as the dos and don’ts for cultivating good luck in our series on Chinese superstitions. For decades, film directors have drawn on Chinese folk and religious beliefs and literary works, and taken inspiration from traditional Chinese festivals. We recall five classic films that show Chinese superstitions in captivating – and spine-chilling – ways. 1. The Eye (2002), directed by Danny Pang Phat and Oxide Pang... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3273501/5-films-about-chinese-superstitions-hopping-vampires-ghosts-curses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3273501/5-films-about-chinese-superstitions-hopping-vampires-ghosts-curses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:15:09 +0000 This is the second article in a six-part series on Gen Z and mental health, in which we look at some of the conditions they are experiencing, including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. We talk to Gen Zs who share their stories, and to experts for their advice on ways to recover and thrive. The latest Pixar Animation Studios film, Inside Out 2, sees its main human character, Riley, enter puberty and experience new emotions – represented, as in the first film, by animated characters. One... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3271854/how-anxiety-has-many-hong-kong-gen-zs-its-grip-and-ways-they-are-breaking-free?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3271854/how-anxiety-has-many-hong-kong-gen-zs-its-grip-and-ways-they-are-breaking-free?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jul 2024 23:45:11 +0000 With post-pandemic travel to mainland China growing, many Hong Kong residents are on the lookout for weekend getaway options. Zhongshan, renamed from Xiangshan in 1925 to honour the “Father of Modern China” Sun Yat-sen (who is better known in China as Sun Zhongshan), has many 19th century buildings, parks and memorials. In recent years, the city has become a popular destination for sightseeing, dining and shopping. The new Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, made up of two bridges over and a tunnel under... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3271642/day-trip-zhongshan-hong-kong-how-get-there-what-do-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3271642/day-trip-zhongshan-hong-kong-how-get-there-what-do-city?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:15:08 +0000 Learn the ins and outs of feng shui, villain hitting, and fortune-telling as well as the dos and don’ts for cultivating good luck in our series on Chinese superstitions. People have, since ancient times, wondered about the meaning of their dreams. In China, systems for understanding omens and prognostications date back to 2000 BC. That is according to The Interpretation of Dreams in Chinese Culture, a book by Juwen Zhang, a professor at Willamette University in the US state of Oregon and an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3271531/dreams-about-snakes-or-wedding-dresses-expert-breaks-down-chinese-dream-interpretation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3271531/dreams-about-snakes-or-wedding-dresses-expert-breaks-down-chinese-dream-interpretation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jul 2024 10:15:11 +0000 Shanghainese writer Jin Yucheng is best known for his novel Blossoms, especially following its recent adaptation by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai for the television series Blossoms Shanghai, starring Hu Ge. But the writer, whose vivid descriptions of the city of his birth helped win him the Lu Xun Literature Prize presented by the China Writers Association, is also a master at portraying China through art. The 71-year-old was recently in Hong Kong for the opening of his first solo exhibition... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3271377/wong-kar-wai-based-blossoms-shanghai-his-novel-now-jin-yucheng-has-hong-kong-art-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3271377/wong-kar-wai-based-blossoms-shanghai-his-novel-now-jin-yucheng-has-hong-kong-art-show?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2024 09:15:09 +0000 As summer temperatures rise in Hong Kong, ice cream and gelato shops are serving cold, sweet escapes for residents and visitors, offering classic flavours and innovative blends that cater to a range of tastes and dietary needs. Here are some of the best places to go, from Causeway Bay to Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, each with their own offerings and atmosphere. 1. Snack Baby Gelato, Central One of Hong Kong’s newest gelato shops offers a regularly changing line-up of 14 flavours, including fior di... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3270895/14-best-ice-cream-and-gelato-shops-hong-kong-stay-cool-summer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3270895/14-best-ice-cream-and-gelato-shops-hong-kong-stay-cool-summer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2024 04:45:08 +0000 Hongkonger Lai Kwan-yi cannot study for long periods of time due to her spinal muscular atrophy, but the 19-year-old has not let that stop her from excelling in this year’s university entrance exams. Lai achieved a score of 25 marks in her best five subjects and a perfect 5** in Chinese for the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams, the results for which were released to about 49,000 candidates on Wednesday. “You should know your own goals and abilities – don’t just wait for others to give... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3270806/hong-kong-dse-students-special-education-needs-revel-exam-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3270806/hong-kong-dse-students-special-education-needs-revel-exam-results?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:00:38 +0000 If you are a fragrance enthusiast, you may have heard of Shiu Shing Hong, a quaint shop in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district that has been around for more than 50 years. The store, which recently went viral on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, not only sells house-made essential oils – must-have souvenirs for visitors from mainland China thanks to the exposure – but recreates the signature scents of popular malls and other venues in Hong Kong. On its shelves are familiar – sometimes odd –... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3270453/what-does-hong-kong-airport-smell-or-your-go-hotel-business-scent-branding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3270453/what-does-hong-kong-airport-smell-or-your-go-hotel-business-scent-branding?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:15:08 +0000 Chef Marc Liao is not afraid to experiment at Marc L³, his restaurant in the bustling heart of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His cooking style combines Taiwanese ingredients with contemporary European flavours and is informed by years of experience working at restaurants in Australia, Canada and Taipei. Liao has already received recognition from the Michelin Guide and a place on The World’s 50 Best Discovery list – a curated database of expert-recommended restaurants. Now he wants to put Taiwanese night... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3269948/beef-noodle-soup-and-more-hong-kong-pop-sees-taiwanese-chef-return-his-roots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3269948/beef-noodle-soup-and-more-hong-kong-pop-sees-taiwanese-chef-return-his-roots?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:15:09 +0000 Tired of carrying a mini fan around or rewashing your cooling towel every two hours? As summer temperatures soar to new highs around the globe, enter the latest trend in personal cooling: hi-tech cooling vests and jackets. These innovative garments claim to keep you comfortable even in the most oppressive heat. We tested three in the heart of Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay neighbourhood on a hot summer’s afternoon, with temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). One was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3269714/2024s-summer-trend-3-cooling-vests-and-jackets-tested-scorching-hot-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3269714/2024s-summer-trend-3-cooling-vests-and-jackets-tested-scorching-hot-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 23:15:08 +0000 The Apple Vision Pro has recently gone on sale in a number of countries outside the US, including China (both on the mainland and in Hong Kong), Japan and Singapore in Asia. We asked a Gen Z casual gamer and an older gadget geek to give us their take on the groundbreaking headset. The Gen Z casual gamer I have only worn mixed-reality headsets in specialised game centres. When I tried the Apple Vision Pro for the first time at a demo session, I was transported to a crystal-clear panoramic... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3268797/apples-vision-pro-hits-hong-kong-and-mainland-china-gen-z-gamer-and-older-geeks-takes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3268797/apples-vision-pro-hits-hong-kong-and-mainland-china-gen-z-gamer-and-older-geeks-takes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jul 2024 03:15:09 +0000 In ancient China, fragrances were not just for an extra spritz of glamour; royal temples burned incense as a sacred offering in religious rituals, lovers gifted each other aromatic embroidered purses for good fortune, and scholars took whiffs of agarwood for literary inspiration. While most of these scents can only be imagined today, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Shanghai Museum have done their best to retrace the diversity of Chinese fragrance culture in their co-curated exhibition “Fragrance... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3268738/scents-past-waft-through-hong-kong-show-chinese-fragrance-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3268738/scents-past-waft-through-hong-kong-show-chinese-fragrance-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:15:08 +0000 Pairing tea with food is a delicate balancing act that, when executed by experts, can make a dining experience extra special. Expect that when Vicky Lau, chef-owner of two-Michelin-star Tate Dining Room in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, hosts “Ode to Tea”, a tea-pairing lunch experience and Puer tea workshop offered in partnership with Hong Kong-based tea experts Being & Tea. The four-course lunch will be served on Fridays and Saturdays until July 27 at Tate Dining Room, where guests will be... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3268191/east-meets-west-tea-pairing-lunch-2-michelin-star-tate-dining-room-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3268191/east-meets-west-tea-pairing-lunch-2-michelin-star-tate-dining-room-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:22:09 +0000 For the second year running, no new restaurants in Singapore have earned a coveted third Michelin star. Korean restaurant Meta joins the ranks of those with two Michelin stars, while four restaurants earn their first stars in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2024, unveiled on June 25. Celebrating its unveiling, Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said: “Singapore’s multicultural character extends beautifully to its world-renowned food scene. The variety of options, from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3267936/michelin-guide-singapore-2024-korean-restaurant-meta-earns-second-star-4-earn-first-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3267936/michelin-guide-singapore-2024-korean-restaurant-meta-earns-second-star-4-earn-first-star?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:37:06 +0000 The Michelin Guide Singapore 2024 has awarded Bibs Gourmand to 81 restaurants, hawker food and street food stalls, 11 of them for the first time. The awards recognise the good-value food they serve. Announced on June 18, ahead of the unveiling of the full Michelin Guide selection on June 25, the list features nine new entrants and two that have been moved from the Michelin Selected category. The total of 81 Bib Gourmand awards is two more than in 2023. Michelin gives the Bib Gourmand to places... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3267034/michelin-guide-singapore-2024-11-new-bib-gourmand-awards-value-meals-dished-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3267034/michelin-guide-singapore-2024-11-new-bib-gourmand-awards-value-meals-dished-out?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:16:52 +0000 Summer is here and it is internship and graduation season for another batch of Generation Z students. Savannah Lai, who has just completed her third year studying law at City University of Hong Kong, has packed her schedule with internships and exchange programmes. With her ultimate goal being either working for the city’s Department of Justice or serving as a barrister-at-law, there is no slowing down for her. “I feel like I don’t need a transition period from graduation to the start of a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3266439/lying-flat-difficult-work-gen-zers-some-wrong-ideas-about-young-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3266439/lying-flat-difficult-work-gen-zers-some-wrong-ideas-about-young-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jun 2024 05:15:08 +0000 On the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar – which this year falls on June 10 – spectators watch crews of paddlers compete in adrenaline-pumping dragon boat races. Paddlers row in unison with all their might to the frenetic beating of drums as they vie to be the first to cross the finish line. Their efforts, a highlight of the annual Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Tuen Ng Festival, are the fruit of months of practice, tears and sweat. A tradition that once paid tribute to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3265816/dragon-boat-festival-races-big-draw-hong-kong-who-builds-boats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3265816/dragon-boat-festival-races-big-draw-hong-kong-who-builds-boats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jun 2024 23:15:12 +0000 The 36 winners of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2024, a long-running competition that celebrates food photography and film around the world, were announced this week. The overall winner was Red Bean Paste Balls by Chinese photographer Zhonghua Yang, a photograph of steamed dim sum being prepared for Lunar New Year celebrations in a rural part of China’s eastern Zhejiang province. Yang’s photograph also took first place in the contest’s Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3265490/lunar-new-year-dim-sum-image-chinese-photographer-wins-global-food-photo-contest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3265490/lunar-new-year-dim-sum-image-chinese-photographer-wins-global-food-photo-contest?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:45:09 +0000