https://www.scmp.com/rss/520774/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Tribune News Service Tribune News Service The smell of sautéed prawns wafted through the event hall behind Hot Shot Coffee in Denver, in the US state of Colorado. Cody Peeler, stood behind a rice cooker and a hotplate, worried the aroma would offend the cafe’s clientele. But to the dozens who had gathered on a Saturday morning in January to play mahjong, it was a most welcoming sign. It meant Peeler’s mapo tofu gumbo station was open. Food is a central component of the free monthly meet-up, the Honour Tile Society. Peeler and his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3351695/it-started-crazy-rich-asians-how-mahjong-booming-across-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3351695/it-started-crazy-rich-asians-how-mahjong-booming-across-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon Just when I thought I had exhausted my appetite for buffets, a Sunday brunch at a French restaurant in Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur proved a delightful corrective. There was free-flowing sparkling wine, a generous spread and a parade of desserts that made restraint all but impossible. I am told that another restaurant in the same hotel offers a Saturday “Straits of Malaya” buffet showcasing Malay cuisine. The prospect is enticing, though it will have to wait a few weekends. At my age, one must eat... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3351102/history-chinas-hospitality-industry-and-how-its-inns-evolved-over-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3351102/history-chinas-hospitality-industry-and-how-its-inns-evolved-over-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/series/3351261/history-hong-kong-triads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/series/3351261/history-hong-kong-triads?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:51:11 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Hong Kong is considered one of the safest cities in the world today – but it has not always been so. There have been periods throughout contemporary history when its streets were ruled and terrorised by gangs. In this series, we look at the history of Hong Kong’s major triad societies and how they shaped the underworld of organised crime and inspired the city’s pop culture. Most well-established Hong Kong triads have auspicious names: Sun Yee On literally means “new, righteousness, peace”, while... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3350992/inside-14k-how-hong-kong-triad-grew-global-crime-syndicate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3350992/inside-14k-how-hong-kong-triad-grew-global-crime-syndicate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon It was a familiar situation that I found myself in. I was one of two Singaporeans among half a dozen or more Malaysians, and predictably – and almost always unprovoked – the trashing of Singapore’s food began, especially its supposed unoriginality and blandness vis-a-vis Malaysian fare. I have learned to grin and bear it, recognising that these barbs are less about food than the complex emotions Malaysians harbour towards their southern cousins, which are shaped by history, resentment and a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3350239/what-ancient-chinese-dish-can-teach-people-about-proper-way-eat-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3350239/what-ancient-chinese-dish-can-teach-people-about-proper-way-eat-dishes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Feng shui master Andrew Kwan says that cosmic energy shifts to a water pillar this month, which clashes with the fire sign of the year. In broader terms, this will be a month of change and purification. Those who are mature and prudent will gain wealth and authority, but all must be wary of financial fluctuations and major errors in documents and contracts. According to the stars, the earthly energy will make maintaining the status quo paramount this month. It will be best not to rush things; a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3350310/year-horse-2026-third-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3350310/year-horse-2026-third-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. All 7 are dentists and hot. The Asian-American family blowing up social media The Chen family shot to social media stardom over their shared career, good looks and closeness – all achieved without tiger parenting. 2. Hainanese chicken rice origins and its versions in Singapore, Malaysia and more With roots in Hainan’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350267/asian-american-family-hot-dentists-hainan-chicken-rice-roots-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350267/asian-american-family-hot-dentists-hainan-chicken-rice-roots-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:45:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Walnuts have been setting social media ablaze – no, really. TikTok and Instagram users have been trying to “turn walnuts into jade” by rhythmically twirling two walnuts in one hand until the nuts take on a polished, jade-like texture. An Instagram reel shared on March 31 by Jessie Jacobson (@growithjessie), who is experimenting with hand-rolling her walnuts and putting another two in a rock tumbler, has more than 8 million views to date. It is the latest iteration of the “Chinamaxxing” or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3349592/turning-walnuts-jade-tiktok-instagram-go-nuts-over-ancient-chinese-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3349592/turning-walnuts-jade-tiktok-instagram-go-nuts-over-ancient-chinese-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I visited the Aberdeen Chinese Permanent Cemetery. The ashes of a friend, who died eight months ago, are interred there. I had not been able to attend his funeral. Our last encounter was a distressing video call from his hospital bed a few days before he passed away. Standing before his niche, I recalled the good times we had shared in Hong Kong and on holidays abroad, and how kind he had been to me. He was also a window into a world that I was never privy to – a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3349593/how-cremation-became-widespread-ancient-china-despite-going-against-confucian-beliefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3349593/how-cremation-became-widespread-ancient-china-despite-going-against-confucian-beliefs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Scholar and author Sheng-Wei Wang discusses how studying an ancient Chinese world map led her to conclude China explored and mapped the world before the European Age of Discovery and how the legacy of colonialism and a Eurocentric record of global history continue to affect power dynamics today. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. What first made you suspect that it was Chinese explorers and not Europeans who launched the true Age of Discovery? The... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3349523/china-always-connector-unlike-europes-colonisers-scholar-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3349523/china-always-connector-unlike-europes-colonisers-scholar-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:17:24 +0000 Wei Wei Wei Wei The Ching Ming Festival, a traditional Chinese festival with a long history, is a time dedicated to paying tribute to deceased family members and ancestors. For me, it is quiet, restrained and deeply personal. There is a rhythm to it: sweeping tombstones, burning incense, offering food and the unspoken conversations that linger in the air. In this context, memory is intimate. It begins with blood ties and extends backwards through generations. And yet, in the past few years, I have witnessed a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349152/chinese-youth-are-embracing-ching-ming-cultural-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349152/chinese-youth-are-embracing-ching-ming-cultural-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Stinky tofu is no longer on the menu at Golden Leaf restaurant in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, after the city received complaints about the dish’s aroma. But the family behind the restaurant is fighting to bring back the street food, which is popular in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and prized for its distinct, potent stench. “The scene of stinky tofu in Taiwanese night markets is an invitation to community and tradition,” owner David Liao says. The dish is “a cherished taste of home and a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348652/forced-stop-selling-stinky-tofu-taiwanese-restaurant-fought-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348652/forced-stop-selling-stinky-tofu-taiwanese-restaurant-fought-back?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:15:11 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon Last month, friends visiting from Hong Kong brought me two tins of cookies from Jenny Bakery – a popular local treat I had somehow never tried in two decades of living in the city. When I finally opened one, the aroma caught me off guard: rich, buttery and instantly familiar. It smelled exactly like the coffee buns from the Malaysian bakery chain Rotiboy, which I used to eat far more often than I should admit. I paused for a moment, tin in hand, trying to place that recognition. Maybe it was a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3348537/history-chinese-flatbreads-reflects-how-food-has-echoes-faraway-places?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3348537/history-chinese-flatbreads-reflects-how-food-has-echoes-faraway-places?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter, or so the saying goes. Similarly, the history of Hong Kong’s triads is not merely a chronicle of crime, but a multilayered saga deeply intertwined with Chinese politics, migration and the city’s unique position. The journey from righteous secret societies to global criminal enterprises reveals much about the turbulent ebbs and flows of Chinese history. The conventional origin of triads lies in the resistance that followed the fall of the Ming... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3348407/origin-triads-secret-societies-and-brotherhoods-global-criminal-networks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3348407/origin-triads-secret-societies-and-brotherhoods-global-criminal-networks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I was watching a “C-drama”, or Chinese television drama, on Netflix and found myself silently questioning why I had to sit through a sluggish 20-minute set piece that could have been done and dusted in two. At that moment, the person who had persuaded me to watch the period potboiler asked, “What is a biaoju?”, referring to a key plot device in the show. China’s armed escort services, known as biaoju, grew out of a very practical problem: getting from point A to point B without being robbed or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347993/how-imperial-chinas-armed-escorts-became-stuff-legend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347993/how-imperial-chinas-armed-escorts-became-stuff-legend?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:15:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong art week: fairs, exhibitions, radical pop-ups With a surge of new venues and a relentless calendar of openings, navigating Hong Kong’s 2026 art week requires strategy. The South China Morning Post presents a carefully curated shortlist. 2. Is Year of the Horse’s second month lucky for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347945/guide-hong-kong-art-week-cultural-chinese-dining-sweden-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347945/guide-hong-kong-art-week-cultural-chinese-dining-sweden-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. In the second month of the Year of the Fire Horse, those born under some zodiac signs may face setbacks with a hidden benefactor, while others may have to contend with gossip and fatigue. There will be those who thrive through teamwork and romance, while others will encounter challenges that require resilience to overcome. Read on to see what is on the cards for your zodiac sign this... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3347549/year-horse-second-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-your-luck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3347549/year-horse-second-month-predictions-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-your-luck?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Xiong Yang Xiong Yang Most of us have fielded the question: “So where are you from?” To say I’m not a fan of this question would be an understatement, considering how my response – “I’m Chinese” – is often met with palpable disappointment. Unfortunately, I don’t have a rare nationality, like Bruneian, nor am I a fun Korean. But before I can spiral into an identity crisis, my appetite always anchors me in the comfort of being Chinese. My Chineseness surfaced in embodied and reassuring ways when I first moved overseas... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346533/new-york-chinese-doesnt-begin-capture-our-many-tastes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346533/new-york-chinese-doesnt-begin-capture-our-many-tastes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I recently enjoyed a delicious dinner at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that specialised in Hakka cuisine. Hakka restaurants have long existed in the city and elsewhere in Malaysia, but anecdotal evidence suggests their numbers have been growing rapidly in recent years. Less widely known than Cantonese and several other Chinese regional cuisines, Hakka food may be enjoying its moment in the sun, at least in Malaysia, where the Hakka population numbers around 1.25 million. They form the largest... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347186/how-hakka-spread-china-and-beyond-their-cuisine-reflecting-hard-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347186/how-hakka-spread-china-and-beyond-their-cuisine-reflecting-hard-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:15:09 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon In a recent interview, Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran who is living in exile in the United States, described the death of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a moment that could mark the end of what he calls a monstrous era of repression. Many Iranians, he said, greeted the news of Khamenei’s assassination with elation, sensing a rare chance to reclaim their country. Pahlavi is careful to insist that he does not seek to be king or president, but a transitional... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3346223/what-irans-former-crown-prince-can-learn-exiled-royals-plea-chinese-emperor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3346223/what-irans-former-crown-prince-can-learn-exiled-royals-plea-chinese-emperor?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Whether it is news “straight from the horse’s mouth”, the futility of “leading a horse to water” or the perils of “looking a gift horse in its mouth”, the English language is trotting with equine idioms. For the South China Morning Post’s resident political cartoonist Harry Harrison, these well-worn phrases provide the perfect stable of inspiration for his latest collection of cheeky illustrations for the Year of the Horse. This set of eight original watercolour and ink works will be up for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3346347/scmp-political-cartoonist-harry-harrisons-new-year-horse-collection-be-auctioned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3346347/scmp-political-cartoonist-harry-harrisons-new-year-horse-collection-be-auctioned?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan When the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, launched its Cantonese language programme in 2015, it was geared towards heritage speakers – second- or third-generation Chinese-Canadians who wanted to learn how to speak to their parents and grandparents in their mother tongue. By the following year, lecturer Raymond Pai, the director of the programme, observed that a third of the students were native Mandarin speakers. “Vancouver is linguistically diverse, and many students... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3346190/why-canadian-universitys-cantonese-language-course-85-cent-mandarin-speakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3346190/why-canadian-universitys-cantonese-language-course-85-cent-mandarin-speakers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I have always been a worrier. For as long as I can remember, I have fretted over every conceivable disaster. Will that approaching car run me down because its driver neglected to fix its brakes? Will my apartment block collapse while I sleep? Will the latest war bring about the end of the world as we know it? It is not debilitating – these thoughts come and go in brief, sporadic flashes – but more than one therapist has suggested that I have a tendency to catastrophise. Their advice is familiar:... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345516/modern-singapore-knows-vigilance-key-so-did-ancient-chinese-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345516/modern-singapore-knows-vigilance-key-so-did-ancient-chinese-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu What happens when it is Gen Z’s turn to define and preserve Chinese traditions? The answer may look like a digital almanac app. The Chinese almanac – known as the tong shu or tung shing in Cantonese and huangli in Mandarin – is much more than a date tracker. A rich, ancient guide used to harmonise daily life with the energies of the universe, the Chinese almanac also includes predictions for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, and can act as a guide for farmers on when to plant crops. Whether looking... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345506/what-chinese-calendar-gen-z-looks-grandmas-tear-almanac-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345506/what-chinese-calendar-gen-z-looks-grandmas-tear-almanac-app?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. She hated working at her parents’ Chinese restaurant. Now she’s made it viral Anna Peng shares the daily joys and challenges of running Canada’s Great Fountain Fast Food to its nearly 40,000 followers on Instagram. 2. Why Michael Tse, Hong Kong actor behind Laughing Gor, is a lesson in resilience Michael Tse’s journey... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3345530/viral-hong-kong-eatery-canada-actor-michael-tses-resilience-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3345530/viral-hong-kong-eatery-canada-actor-michael-tses-resilience-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Lisa Lim Lisa Lim Chinese New Year might soon be concluding, but that doesn’t mean you cannot continue this “very Chinese time” of your life. After all, we are in the thick of a social media trend of “becoming Chinese”, popularised by Gen Z, in which the norms and traditions typically associated with Chinese culture are embraced, particularly by non-Chinese in the West: sipping hot water, wearing house slippers, consuming traditional Chinese medicine, acquiring “made in China” products, practising tai chi … Such... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344821/gen-z-loves-chinamaxxing-where-does-maxxing-come?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344821/gen-z-loves-chinamaxxing-where-does-maxxing-come?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu We humans seem hard-wired to find a strange, sweet comfort in the world of nostalgia. This collective longing has found a digital home in “nostalgia-posting”, where sepia-toned snapshots from the mid-20th century fill our social media feeds. But a more complex chapter is being written as AI enters the fray, blurring the line between memory and machine. What happens to history when technology begins to curate nostalgia? Black-and-white photography often feels as though it is from a different... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344824/how-ai-helping-bring-hong-kong-history-life-instagram-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344824/how-ai-helping-bring-hong-kong-history-life-instagram-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:15:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the seventh instalment. In the world of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), few remedies carry the legendary status – or the hefty price tag – of Angong Niuhuang Wan, often referred to as the “miracle pill”. The old formula, consisting of 11 herbs and minerals, has long been revered as a top-grade emergency medicine, historically used to treat those who have had a stroke or may... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon You must have seen that photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of the British king, attempting to hide in the back seat of a car, eyes reddened by the camera flash, looking like a pathetic rodent moments before it is turned into roadkill. In response to the former prince’s arrest, King Charles said in a statement: “The law must take its course.” British law enforcement is finally initiating formal legal proceedings against Andrew for alleged wrongdoing. It may have taken far too long,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344712/after-andrews-arrest-how-high-born-criminals-were-treated-ancient-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344712/after-andrews-arrest-how-high-born-criminals-were-treated-ancient-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:15:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Feng shui tips for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs for the Year of the Horse 2026 Feng shui master Andrew Kwan shares where each Chinese zodiac sign can place items for good luck in the Year of the Fire Horse. 2. ‘I could not walk’: how exercise helped a mother manage serious knee pain With surgery off the table, Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3344677/chinese-zodiac-feng-shui-tips-moms-path-pain-free-movement-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3344677/chinese-zodiac-feng-shui-tips-moms-path-pain-free-movement-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:21:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung A Hong Kong fixture since 1945 and with more than 320 outlets across the city today, supermarket chain Wellcome is synonymous with practicality. It is therefore one of the last places one might expect to become a tourist attraction. Recently, one branch in the Kowloon neighbourhood of Yau Ma Tei has transformed into a photo hotspot, largely thanks to its vibrant in-store tribute to the city’s “golden era” from the 1950s to the 1970s. Upon entering, customers pass through a “time tunnel” in the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344329/whats-behind-hong-kongs-retro-display-craze-sweeping-supermarkets-shops-and-stations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344329/whats-behind-hong-kongs-retro-display-craze-sweeping-supermarkets-shops-and-stations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon South Korea’s intelligence agency has signalled what could be a historic turn in North Korea’s dynastic politics. Lawmakers were recently told that supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s teenage daughter, whose name is widely believed to be Kim Ju-ae, is being positioned as his likely successor. If confirmed, the move would extend the Kim family’s rule into a fourth generation and, more strikingly, elevate a girl within a rigidly patriarchal society and political system. Her public profile has risen... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344084/kim-jong-un-grooms-daughter-rule-chinese-princess-whose-ambition-backfired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344084/kim-jong-un-grooms-daughter-rule-chinese-princess-whose-ambition-backfired?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344115/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-enjoy-good-luck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3344115/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-all-12-chinese-zodiac-signs-enjoy-good-luck?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343976/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-snakes-luck-money-health-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343976/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-snakes-luck-money-health-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343717/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-dragons-luck-wealth-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343717/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-dragons-luck-wealth-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. The 15th day of the first lunar month falls on March 3 this year. In Chinese culture, not only is the day known as the Lantern Festival, it is also the last day to give out red packets. Then on and after the 16th day, you can finally count the money you collected over the Lunar New Year. According to Chinese tradition, opening these red envelopes – hong bao in Mandarin or lai see in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343794/when-best-time-open-lunar-new-year-red-packets-year-horse-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343794/when-best-time-open-lunar-new-year-red-packets-year-horse-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343798/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-rabbits-luck-money-health-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343798/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-rabbits-luck-money-health-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. Anyone familiar with their Chinese zodiac sign is likely to have encountered the term tai sui and discovered that their animal sometimes conflicts with this guardian deity. The 12 zodiac signs correspond to Jupiter’s 12-year orbit of the sun. Each lunar year is also linked to a different celestial figure that opposes Jupiter, called the heavenly general, the cycle god, the Grand Duke of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343797/how-appease-tai-sui-year-horse-2026-and-what-watch-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343797/how-appease-tai-sui-year-horse-2026-and-what-watch-out?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:15:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung From auspicious horse-themed phrases and couplets to whether your luck is in, check out our Year of the Horse 2026 series to discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year. Searching for luck in the new year? We know exactly how to get it, and it is through your stomach. For generations, Chinese families have believed that the most direct and foolproof way to ensure fortune and prosperity is to eat it. Each dish served during the Lunar New Year is the result of a conscious... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343723/8-lucky-lunar-new-year-foods-attract-abundance-wealth-and-health-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343723/8-lucky-lunar-new-year-foods-attract-abundance-wealth-and-health-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343432/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-tigers-luck-career-romance-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343432/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-tigers-luck-career-romance-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Syrena Jin Syrena Jin Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. In Chinese culture, the custom of picking auspicious days for significant events is called zaak jat in Cantonese and ze ji in Mandarin, and picking the right date and time to return to work after the Lunar New Year holiday is a good example of this traditional practice. The Spring Festival break has historically lasted a couple of weeks, but these days it is not uncommon for businesses... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343481/best-days-start-work-after-lunar-new-year-2026-break-good-fortune?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343481/best-days-start-work-after-lunar-new-year-2026-break-good-fortune?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343195/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-oxen-luck-money-health-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343195/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-oxen-luck-money-health-and-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Lisa Lim Lisa Lim Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. The coming arrival of the Year of the Horse has seen equine imagery and language emerging hot out of the gate. Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour fireworks display is themed “Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong”; similarly, at the Jockey Club’s Year of the Horse Race Day at Sha Tin, you will “Gallop into Good Fortune”. Writers have trotted out lists of idioms related to horses in Chinese and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343396/why-harry-potter-enemy-draco-malfoy-trending-ahead-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343396/why-harry-potter-enemy-draco-malfoy-trending-ahead-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Syrena Jin Syrena Jin Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. Have you ever experienced moments of friction in a partnership, or found yourself in frequent conflict within a close relationship? Your zodiac signs might hold a clue. In the Chinese zodiac, the 12 animals do not always live in harmony. There is an ancient framework within this tradition that determines which pairs will thrive and which may clash. For the Horse – symbolising energy,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343462/what-are-enemy-signs-chinese-zodiac-horses-have-3-how-find-success-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343462/what-are-enemy-signs-chinese-zodiac-horses-have-3-how-find-success-them?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343431/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-rats-luck-career-money-and-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343431/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-rats-luck-career-money-and-love?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Syrena Jin Syrena Jin Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. With the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, just around the corner – the first day falls on February 17 this year – families around China have begun preparing for what is one of the most important events in the Chinese calendar. From cleaning to worshipping and buying festive goods, the whole country is gearing up to welcome the Year of the Horse. Among the preparations and festivities... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343460/lunar-new-year-traditions-and-customs-each-day-holiday-food-haircuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343460/lunar-new-year-traditions-and-customs-each-day-holiday-food-haircuts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon My niece’s parents-in-law recently flew in for the Singapore leg of her wedding – eight months after the main celebration in London. Keen to return the generosity they had shown me during my stay in the UK, I took the Lingalas on a day out in Singapore’s Little India and Chinatown. We began at the Indian Heritage Centre, an excellent museum that traces the layered history of the Indian diaspora in Singapore. After lunch and some shopping in Little India, we went to the 200-year-old Sri Mariamman... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343146/how-singapores-chinatown-reveals-surprising-roots-buddhist-deities-ne-zha?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3343146/how-singapores-chinatown-reveals-surprising-roots-buddhist-deities-ne-zha?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343246/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-pigs-luck-money-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343246/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-pigs-luck-money-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Are your loved ones in luck this year? See our predictions for all the zodiac signs in the Year of the Horse. If your Chinese zodiac forecast warns of challenges in the coming year, or if you want to improve your already good luck, remember that feng shui can help. This ancient art of placement, which is rooted in Taoist philosophy, aims to harmonise the energy, or qi, between individuals and their surroundings. Many turn to feng shui to minimise misfortune and enhance their luck in health,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343129/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-dogs-luck-career-money-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-zodiac/article/3343129/year-horse-2026-feng-shui-advice-dogs-luck-career-money-love-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese consumers placed over 120 million orders on Alibaba Cloud’s flagship artificial intelligence app Qwen within six days, signalling growing acceptance of AI-powered shopping as the company joined other mainland Chinese tech giants in a multibillion-yuan holiday campaign. Nearly half the orders came from residents in counties and hinterland areas, with around 1.56 million people aged 60 and above making their first online purchases through Qwen, according to a statement on Thursday from... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343289/alibabas-qwen-tops-120-million-orders-6-days-amid-chinas-ai-shopping-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343289/alibabas-qwen-tops-120-million-orders-6-days-amid-chinas-ai-shopping-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:02:39 +0000