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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.
Some experts believe that the “Becoming Chinese” trend is a phenomenon that highlights a growing disillusionment among some non-Chinese individuals with their own societal norms. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote
Trending in China

Cultural currents: how ‘Becoming Chinese’ trend is transforming Western lifestyles

Although trend may not persist indefinitely, cultural imitation driven by digital platforms will resurface time and again, expert says.

Chinese zodiac predictions

How Rabbits can avoid bad luck in the Year of the Horse 2026

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Mahjong

Painted tiles, loud tables, new faces: shaping mahjong’s next chapter

Food and Drinks

On the Menu | How to become a real ‘Chinese baddie’? It’s more than just drinking hot water

TikTokkers claim they’re ‘becoming Chinese’ because they drink hot water, but achieving true ‘Chinese baddie’ status is much harder.

Sara Jane Ho shows how to slice an orange elegantly on her Netflix show, Mind Your Manners. In a Chinese home, the act of peeling and cutting fruit for your loved ones is a sign of deep respect. Those wanting to become a true “Chinese baddie” would do well to take heed. Photo: Instagram/sarajaneho
Chinese zodiac predictions

Oxen clash with the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026. How to avoid bad luck

A fortune-teller shares how Oxen can mitigate the negative effects of clashing with the tai sui deity in the coming Year of the Fire Horse.

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Mainland China

Video | Chinese pig farmers switch to raising ‘Wagyu of pork’

More Chinese farmers are turning to raising black pigs, considered the ‘Wagyu of pork’.

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Food and Drinks

Craving a midnight bite in Macau? The city’s top chefs are here to help

Macau’s top chefs share their favourite post-shift haunts where the city’s culinary roots run deepest – and where inspiration is born.

Macau’s late-night dining culture sets the city aglow. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Chinese zodiac predictions

How Rats can appease the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026

Rats will clash with the tai sui deity in the Year of the Fire Horse. Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha reveals how they can improve their fortune.

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Art

How a residency in Ireland changed everything for this artist

The Macau-born, New York-based artist makes ceramic sculptures, paying tribute to her late mother and Macau’s architectural history.

Chinese zodiac predictions

How Horses can appease the tai sui in the Year of the Horse 2026

Horses will be at odds with the tai sui deity in the Year of the Fire Horse. Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares how they can avoid bad luck.

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Horses will conflict with the tai sui deity in the coming Year of the Horse 2026, but there are things you can do to stave off bad luck. Photo: Shutterstock
Fashion

Letters | Don’t be too quick to call brands out on cultural appropriation

Readers discuss the use of Chinese stylistic elements in fashion, a Malaysian corruption trial, and a new trade pact.

Brands like Adidas have adopted stylistic elements associated with Chinese clothing. Photo: Adidas Power of Three
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How Chinese new year cards went from elites’ greetings to bribery instruments

Wishing someone a happy new year was a highly formal affair among people of status in imperial China and some cards were even collected.

Timepieces

New Year, new watches: 4 dazzling timepieces for the Year of the Horse

Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Longines and Jaeger-LeCoultre debut Chinese New Year-inspired watches associated with vitality, joy and success.

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 30-February 1

Indulge in an excess of tea, browse Hong Kong’s independent fashion brands, immerse yourself in Central Asian culture and more this weekend.

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PMQ’s Tea Round 2026 festival is one of five things we recommend checking out this weekend in Hong Kong. Photo: Tea Round, PMQ
Style Edit

Style Edit: Saddle up for Lunar New Year with Furla’s Year of the Horse bags

As the lunar cycle turns, the house of Furla’s new bag collection combines auspicious motifs with nearly a century of Italian craftsmanship.

Get into the festive spirit with Furla’s Year of the Horse bags this season. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong

Pony tales: how the Hong Kong Pony Club develops young riders

Hong Kong Pony Club members learn horsemanship, build lasting friendships, and develop a lasting respect for horses and ponies.

Year of the Horse 2026

15 gifts for Lunar New Year, from fashion and make-up to jewellery and watches

Celine, Bottega Veneta, Chloé, Fendi, Burberry and others are ushering in the Year of the Horse with festive capsules and limited edition pieces.

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Hong Kong

Reservations now open for new banknotes for Year of the Horse red packets

HSBC, Standard Chartered and BOC are taking bookings for the new and ‘good as new’ banknote exchange at certain branches from February 3-16.

To celebrate the Year of the Horse 2026, three Hong Kong banks will offer brand-new and “good as new” banknotes for customers to put in red packets, from February 3-16. Participating bank branches will open at 8am for the first three days of the programme. Photo: Getty Images
Books and literature

He worked 19 low-paid jobs, then wrote a book about them. Now he works no more

Hu Anyan, whose ‘I Deliver Parcels in Beijing’ has sold over 2 million copies, will speak at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival.

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

Tourism Board says procession of 12 floats will feature dozens of performing groups, expects event to draw 100,000 people.

A performance during the Lunar New Year parade in 2025. Photo: Nora Tam
Asian cinema: Chinese films

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

Civilians try to fend off Japanese soldiers in this thrilling drama that focuses on character dynamics rather than patriotic grandstanding.

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Xiao Zhan in a still from Gezhi Town (category IIB, Mandarin), co-starring Peng Yuchang and Zhou Yiran, and directed by Kong Sheng.
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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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.

Alphabet Inc.’s Google debuted an updated version of its artificial intelligence model, Gemini, that executives said represents a “massive jump” in reasoning and coding ability. (Dreamstime/TNS)
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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