https://www.scmp.com/rss/520256/feed Austin previously covered cultural news in South Yorkshire, England, and worked in a local newspaper. He is currently studying for a master's degree in journalism at the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com It is a long-standing Chinese tradition during the Lunar New Year to give out red packets, also known as lai see in Cantonese and hong bao in Mandarin. Usually handed out in pairs and containing money, these paper envelopes are accompanied by greetings such as kung hei fat choi (in Cantonese) or gong1 xi3 fa1 cai2 (in Mandarin) to give everyone an auspicious start to the new year. The red colour of the packets symbolises good luck and prosperity and the amount of money inside usually ends in an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3295203/why-chinese-give-red-packets-lunar-new-year-and-rise-digital-versions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3295203/why-chinese-give-red-packets-lunar-new-year-and-rise-digital-versions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Jan 2025 23:15:10 +0000 From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. Superstition or not, there are many Chinese parents out there who try their best to have a child or two during the Year of the Dragon. It is believed that those born in this Chinese zodiac year will grow into power and greatness – qualities that the mythical beast is said to possess. There are more births recorded in China during the Year of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3294066/why-there-are-fewer-babies-born-year-snake-and-what-it-means?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3294066/why-there-are-fewer-babies-born-year-snake-and-what-it-means?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 08:15:08 +0000 The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide 2025, published by Meituan – China’s largest shopping platform – was unveiled at a ceremony held in the Chinese city of Nanchang on January 6. Compared to last year, the number of restaurants selected in Hong Kong and Macau in the 2025 guide has increased. There are 37 Hong Kong restaurants and 17 in Macau. In the latest guide, seven Hong Kong establishments were named one-diamond restaurants – equivalent to one Michelin star – for the first time. These include... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3293739/black-pearl-restaurant-guide-2025-awards-7-hong-kong-spots-diamond-ratings-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3293739/black-pearl-restaurant-guide-2025-awards-7-hong-kong-spots-diamond-ratings-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:15:14 +0000 Chinese New Year is not just about red packets, puddings and dumplings. Commonly seen in people’s houses during the festival, the chuen hup, also known as the togetherness box, is a veritable feast of tiny sweet treats that also carries rich cultural connotations and many beautiful and auspicious meanings. Chinese New Year, also known in China as the Spring Festival, is the most important festival in the country, symbolising a farewell to the old, the ushering in of the new and the renewal of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3293233/how-red-chinese-candy-box-bestows-blessings-luck-and-wealth-during-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3293233/how-red-chinese-candy-box-bestows-blessings-luck-and-wealth-during-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 05:15:08 +0000 From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. Snakes are said to be easy to look after but they need just as much attention from their owners as any other pet. Some may even argue they require more care since, unlike cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, these reptiles are not fully domesticated animals. According to World Animal Protection, a US non-profit, snakes are wild animals and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3292400/want-buy-snake-pet-tips-common-breeds-food-handling-care-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3292400/want-buy-snake-pet-tips-common-breeds-food-handling-care-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:15:08 +0000 From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. If you are looking for a “safe” outing in Hong Kong on the third day of the Lunar New Year – considered an ominous day according to folklore – then head to Wildtrek Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year Snake Tour 2025. The tour is not so much a tour as it is a pair of trail races through Sai Kung East and West country parks, in the New Territories, on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3292143/join-race-snakes-through-hong-kong-country-parks-avoid-run-loved-ones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3292143/join-race-snakes-through-hong-kong-country-parks-avoid-run-loved-ones?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:15:11 +0000 From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. Get ready for the Year of the Snake by boosting your fitness at a day-long fitness retreat on Hong Kong’s Lamma Island ahead of the Lunar New Year. Two Sweet Feet, an enterprise co-founded by British strength training coach Harry Taylor and Hong Kong yoga instructor Kalam Chu, has organised a day of fitness and community connection in Tai Peng... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3291669/year-snake-fitness-retreat-hong-kong-features-snake-themed-exercises-and-motifs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3291669/year-snake-fitness-retreat-hong-kong-features-snake-themed-exercises-and-motifs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:15:09 +0000 From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. Snakes in popular culture today are often associated with treachery and deception. For instance, calling someone a “snake” typically means that they act in an underhanded or back-stabbing way. However, this has not always been the case. In Chinese culture, the snake has come to represent righteousness and good fortune, especially with the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3291652/how-snake-loved-hated-or-feared-cultures-and-religions-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3291652/how-snake-loved-hated-or-feared-cultures-and-religions-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:15:07 +0000 From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: all you need to know about the upcoming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. Forget about cats, dogs and fish. In Hong Kong, Gen Zers – those born between 1997 and 2012 – are increasingly looking for exotic pets, specifically ones that are easy to take care of. Snakes tick both those boxes. “There are lots of snake keepers around my age in Hong Kong like [those still in] secondary school,” says Royce Wong, an 18-year-old who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3291354/pet-snakes-trending-hong-kong-gen-z-opts-chill-animals-over-cats-and-dogs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3291354/pet-snakes-trending-hong-kong-gen-z-opts-chill-animals-over-cats-and-dogs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Dec 2024 04:15:08 +0000 K-pop star Rain put in a brief but much-anticipated appearance at the opening of the Longines Hong Kong International Races at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on December 8. The 42-year-old singer and actor, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, has appeared in a string of Korean dramas including Full House (2004) and this year’s Red Swan. He took to the stage at the event’s opening ceremony and delivered a series of his hits, including “It’s Raining”, “La Song” and “Hip Song”. His fans loved... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3289980/popular-k-pop-star-rain-dazzles-hong-kong-international-races-electric-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3289980/popular-k-pop-star-rain-dazzles-hong-kong-international-races-electric-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:15:07 +0000 What is a Jellycat and why are people queuing up, for hours at a time, to buy one? Founded in 1999 in London, England, Jellycat is a soft-toy company that produces plush toys, or plushies, ranging from animals like cats to food items such as croissants to objects like cassette tapes. People young and old are falling in love with the cute and fun designs, even though they do not come cheap. In Hong Kong, for example, a selection of Jellycats at a pop-up store in the Lane Crawford department store... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3289304/why-are-jellycat-plushies-so-popular-im-just-giving-back-my-childhood-says-one-fan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3289304/why-are-jellycat-plushies-so-popular-im-just-giving-back-my-childhood-says-one-fan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Dec 2024 08:45:07 +0000