https://www.scmp.com/rss/524475/feed The latest news and updates Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia, a celebrated screen icon, initially rising to prominence in 1970s Taiwanese romantic dramas, starring in over 50 films. She later became a dominant figure in Hong Kong cinema, particularly known for her versatile and often androgynous roles in wuxia films, such as "Swordsman II" and "Peking Opera Blues". Lin’s career saw her collaborate with acclaimed directors like Tsui Hark and Wong Kar-wai. She retired from acting in 1994, transitioning... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Legendary Hong Kong film director Li Han-hsiang is best known for stately historical dramas like the lavish Empress Wu Tse-tien (1963), but he also made important huangmei diao opera films. Originating in mainland China’s Hubei province, this folk opera style spawned massive 1960s box office hits. Notably, these productions were not filmed stage operas but fully formed cinematic experiences, akin to Hollywood musicals. Here we look at two very different huangmei diao films directed by Li. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344075/how-2-films-li-han-hsiang-became-classics-hong-kongs-chinese-folk-opera-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344075/how-2-films-li-han-hsiang-became-classics-hong-kongs-chinese-folk-opera-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Chinese superstar Gong Li rose to fame as the muse of China’s Fifth Generation directors, starring in art-house classics such as Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell My Concubine. But during the 1990s, she found time to make a batch of lesser-known commercial films in Hong Kong. Below, we revisit a few of her most noteworthy outings in the city. 1. Flirting Scholar (1993) Gong had appeared with superstar comedian Stephen Chow Sing-chi once before, in a dual role in 1991’s God of Gamblers... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3339254/3-times-gong-li-surprised-hong-kong-films-including-flirting-scholar-stephen-chow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3339254/3-times-gong-li-surprised-hong-kong-films-including-flirting-scholar-stephen-chow?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Syrena Jin Syrena Jin 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. In Chinese culture, the horse represents intelligence, courage and untamed freedom. It is also a powerful symbol of capability and success, often embodied in the mythical beast qian li ma – a winged steed not unlike Pegasus in Greek mythology – which is said to be able to travel long distances in a very short... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3338088/7-successful-people-born-year-horse-jackie-chan-ang-lee-and-lu-han?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3338088/7-successful-people-born-year-horse-jackie-chan-ang-lee-and-lu-han?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam This is the 56th instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades. In the dazzling, neon-drenched heyday of 1980s and ’90s Hong Kong, when Cantopop music reigned supreme across the region and the city’s cinema captivated the world, a voice of unparalleled grace emerged: Sally Yeh Chian-wen. With her silky smooth vibrato, effortless charm and unusual bilingual appeal, Yeh transcended pop stardom to become a cultural icon. From her early days as a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3320269/when-hong-kong-singer-actress-sally-yeh-dominated-citys-music-and-cinema-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3320269/when-hong-kong-singer-actress-sally-yeh-dominated-citys-music-and-cinema-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam With Chua Lam’s death on June 25, Hong Kong has lost not just a culinary icon but a storyteller who inspired a generation of Hongkongers to explore the world through food. As a child of the Asia-Australia diaspora, my first experience of Chua Lam was via television. My mother had rented one of his series on VHS tapes, and I remember sitting down to an episode of him visiting a vineyard in Australia. While tasting the wine, the vineyard’s owner said: “This is a rare vintage, so we should drink it... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316338/how-hong-kong-culinary-icon-chua-lam-inspired-generation-explore-world-through-food?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316338/how-hong-kong-culinary-icon-chua-lam-inspired-generation-explore-world-through-food?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:15:08 +0000