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Chinese culture

Chinese culture
Latest news and updates on Chinese culture including the country’s traditions, food, values, history and festivals.
Launched in July, the Ancestra collection by Atelier Wen features enamel dials by master enameller Kong Lingjun. Photo: Handout
Timepieces

Atelier Wen showcases Chinese craftsmanship, from Henan to Dubai Watch Week

The brand showcases dials featuring traditional crafts – from guilloché to enamel and gratté – and the Chinese studios behind them.

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong Lunar New Year parade to feature Labubu, wishing tree on floats

Asian cinema: Chinese films

Review | Gezhi Town: Chinese war drama with Xiao Zhan dares to entertain

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Mahjong

Is this ‘unlucky’ chocolate mahjong set cultural appropriation?

A Hong Kong-based chocolate company is facing criticism for its Lunar New Year set, which features a winning hand known as ‘13 Orphans’.

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A box of Conspiracy Chocolate’s latest Lunar New Year collection showcases “mahjong tiles” displayed in a winning “13 Orphans” hand. The chocolate set has sparked a cultural appropriation debate over its unlucky symbolism. Photo: Conspiracy Chocolate
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

3 of Hong Kong martial arts legend Alexander Fu Sheng’s more unusual movies

Chinatown Kid, The Deadly Breaking Sword and Treasure Hunters saw Fu taking on more varied projects than his usual Shaolin kung fu films.

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ChatGPT and other generative AIs

What does AI predict will happen in the fiery Year of the Horse 2026?

With the rise of AI mirroring the Year of the Fire Horse’s restless energy, we ask DeepSeek, Perplexity and Gemini their 2026 predictions.

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Trending in China

‘Becoming Chinese’ trend sees foreigners adopting warm water and qigong

Trend signals shift from viewing Chinese culture from a distance to actively engaging and recognising it, according to Chinese state media.

There is an emerging trend where foreigners are embracing various aspects of Chinese culture by adopting habits such as drinking warm water, herbal teas and wearing slippers indoors. Photo: SCMP composite/TikTok
Food and Drinks

Famous San Francisco Chinatown restaurant reveals its recipes in new cookbook

Kathy and Peter Fang’s cookbook is full of recipes of House of Nanking’s most popular dishes and others from Kathy’s childhood.

Chinese overseas

Being Chinese | A Chinese Singaporean’s dilemma: should I change my surname?

My grandparents lost their original surnames by force of circumstance. Now that I have the luxury of choice, do I restore my family name?

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Year of the Horse 2026

Saddle up with lucky horse-motif jewellery for the Lunar New Year

Anna Hu, Cece Jewellery, Jade Trau, YSSO, Roxanne First and Lionheart are among the jewellers embracing equestrian motifs.

Cece Jewellery’s A Traveller’s Tale is among the equestrian-themed collections being rolled out ahead of the Year of the Horse. Photo: Handout
Chinese zodiac predictions

Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Snakes, from money to health

Snakes will enjoy increased wealth and stable relationships in the Year of the Fire Horse, but curse stars will bring ailments and stress.

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Snakes? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Chinese zodiac predictions

Is the Year of the Snake’s 12th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signs

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances.

Food and Drinks

5 lucky foods to savour this Lunar New Year for wealth and happiness

Here are the lucky dishes to eat this festive season, from prosperity-generating oysters to biang biang noodles symbolising a long life.

Food and Drinks

How dumplings spread across Asia and Europe and tips on making your own

From ravioli to gyoza and pierogi, dumplings are one of the world’s most popular foods. Find out how easy they are to make at home.

FILED - Wantan, Chinese filled dumplings, here served with chilli oil. Photo: ---/asiastreetfood.com/dpa-tmn - ATTENTION: editorial use only in connection with the aforementioned text and only if the credit mentioned above is referenced in full
China society

Opinion | In China, the pressure on women to marry is deadly serious

Wedding-day death of Henan teacher highlights desperation of young women caught between modern hopes and traditional expectations.

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Some people in China are sharing AI-generated videos of middle-aged single women crying in hospitals, regretting their choice not to marry or have children. Photo: SCMP composite / Shutterstock / Douyin
Food and Drinks

How did China’s dan dan mian noodle dish become so popular in Japan?

Known as tantanmen in Japan, the sesame-flavoured noodles have spread across the country and appear in a variety of creative takes.

Chinese history

Why Asia’s historic Silk Road should have been called the ‘Horse Road’

It was China’s desperate need for good warhorses that spawned history’s most famous trade network, animals it paid for in silk and then tea.

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Interiors

This refurbished home is a love letter to old Shanghai

A Hong Kong designer transforms his late aunt’s flat with 1930s East-meets-West glamour.

An old Shanghai-style flat. Photo: courtesy hoo
Chinese zodiac predictions

Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Dragons, from career to romance

The Year of the Fire Horse will bring Dragons good luck in terms of career development, but the outlook for romance and health isn’t so rosy.

World of performing arts

World’s first Chinese rosewood cello stars in Hong Kong exhibition

Made over six months from a 200-year-old piece of Chinese rosewood, or huanghuali, the cello is now on show at Sheung Wan’s Liang Yi Museum.

Chinese zodiac predictions

Opinion | In Chinese astrology, why are benefactors and networking so important?

Benefactors in Chinese culture are people who swoop in to save you or give a leg up. They are your essential allies – and that’s a big deal.

Chinese fortune-tellers often mention benefactors who help to improve your life. In Chinese astrology, benefactors are people around you who will change things from good to great and stop things going from bad to worse. Photo: Shutterstock
China jobs

Hong Kong degree is ‘passport’ to jobs in the world’s third-largest art market

Art graduates from the mainland, looking to expand their horizons and gain an edge in the job market, are flocking to Hong Kong for further study.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Art

This remote Chinese minority uses horsetail hair to create beautiful embroidery

A craft passed down for thousands of years, the horsetail embroidery of China’s Shui people is deemed a local intangible cultural heritage.

Science

Chinese team restores legendary Tang dynasty ‘golden’ armour from Tibetan tomb

Tomb’s occupant confirmed to be a Tuyuhun king and the golden armour is likely to have been among his prized possessions, conservators say.

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Chinese zodiac predictions

Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Rabbits, from career to romance

The Year of the Fire Horse will bring Rabbits good luck at work, and romance will blossom. But they should pay attention to their health.

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Rabbits? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Chinese zodiac predictions

Why the Year of the Horse 2026 will be luckier in wealth than love for Oxen

While wealth, career and health fortunes will be good for Oxen in the Year of the Fire Horse, true love might be hard to come by.

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Oxen? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why Ronny Yu’s The Postman Fights Back is an unusual wuxia gem

Starring Leung Kar-yan and with a young Chow Yun-fat on the cast, 1982’s The Postman Fights Back is an intriguing mix of Western and wuxia.

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Food and Drinks

History of Macau’s iconic pork chop bun and where to eat the authentic classic

Gaining global fame after being spotlighted by Anthony Bourdain, Macau’s pork chop bun is set to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage item.

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