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Chinese history

Chinese history
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chinese history. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A Chinese scholar says that before Japan’s surrender in the second world war, evidence of crimes by its Unit 731 was systematically destroyed on the instruction of Emperor Hirohito. Photo: Xinhua
Science

China urged to sue over Japanese royal’s role in Unit 731 crimes

Emperor Hirohito should be held accountable, according to scholars who say the wartime ruler was shielded from prosecution by US policy.

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China’s Communist Party

Fall of Ming dynasty has ignited controversy online – and China has weighed in

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Science

Well-preserved section of China’s 2,200-year-old four-lane highway discovered

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Trending in China

Explainer | China Santa Claus: Qing dynasty military figure ‘cutified’ into ‘Father Christmas’

Oboi has become a new pop culture icon in China, with related videos exceeding 1 billion views on Douyin.

A Qing dynasty military commander is being reinterpreted as “China’s Santa Claus” due to his white beard and red hat, appealing to younger generations. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Malaysia’s unusual creation still affects it today. China mulled doing similar

Malaysia was born as a federation in 1963, with some states considered ‘special’. China also once toyed with federal ideals.

Chinese culture

Explainer | What is the winter solstice? History, food and how Hong Kong celebrates

Known as dung zi in Cantonese and dongzhi in Mandarin, the winter solstice is one of the most important celebrations for Chinese families.

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China-Japan relations

Tower of peace or sin? Why China says a Japanese wartime monument must be razed

Chinese state media decries tourist attraction as ‘symbol of militarism’ as Beijing’s diplomatic row with Tokyo continues.

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Hakko Ichiu Tower, renamed Tower of Peace, stands in Heiwadai Park in the city of Miyazaki, Japan. Photo: Getty Images
Books and literature

Hidden histories of China revealed at rare book fair in Hong Kong

At Firsts Hong Kong, several rare book exhibits gave visitors the chance to peruse first-hand accounts of China’s complex past.

History

After The War | Virtual reality and the Nanking massacre: where does immersion become trauma?

Amid push in China for museum digitalisation, one educator seeks to help students ‘feel history without being flooded by it’.

Chinese culture

5 of the best-known horses in Chinese legend, from the Red Hare to qilin

Horses play a fascinating role in Chinese folklore, ranging from the downright disturbing – one kidnaps a girl – to the gently auspicious.

Warlord Lu Bu and his famous horse Red Hare are depicted in the 2013 video game Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends.
US-China relations

After The War | How an American family’s wartime bond with China brings the countries together

Daughter-in-law of Flying Tiger who taught in Fujian province sees lessons in ordinary people always finding ways to understand one another.

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Elyn MacInnis and her family share a bond with China that was forged during the second world war and now spans three generations. Photo: Xinhua
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Ancient China’s Labubu-like doll craze also saw fans splurge silly money

Mohele dolls featured expensive ‘special editions’, saw designer collaborations and even inspired cosplay, much like Labubus today.

Science

US green tech retreat echoes mistake of China’s Qing dynasty before collapse

While Washington pulls back on climate, Beijing is making it possible for developing nations to leapfrog into a cleaner energy era.

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Art

Famous horse-related works of art as the Year of the Horse 2026 approaches

To celebrate the nearing Year of the Fire Horse, we look at paintings, books and plays that show how the use of horses in art has evolved.

A scene from War Horse, performed at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2019. The award-winning British play is one of many artworks made over the centuries with a strong equine focus. Photo: Winson Wong
Chinese culture

Why the Year of the Horse 2026 could bring chaos but also great progress

With 12 animals and 5 elements, the Year of the Fire Horse comes around every 60 years and tends to bring both good fortune and bad.

The Year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17, 2026. Being a “double fire” year, it could mean drastic change ahead. Photo: Shutterstock
Chinese culture

Language Matters | The enduring legacy of bamboo, a symbol of resilience and strength in Asia

Bamboo is used in everything from construction to food throughout Asia, and even lends itself to global concepts like the ‘bamboo curtain’.

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | In wake of Tai Po blaze, China’s long and difficult struggle fighting fire

The qualities that made buildings beautiful in premodern Chinese cities also made them dangerously flammable, and fire was a constant threat.

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Trending in China

China boy, 14, acts like ancient scholar, turns bedroom into museum of artefacts

Teenager with a passion for history collects items stretching across China’s dynasties; says packed bedroom is the ‘container of my spirit’.

A 14-year-old boy from China has turned his bedroom into a museum of ancient artefacts and history books, surprising many with his mature demeanour. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | ‘Mar-a-Lago faces’ echo Chinese elites’ unhealthy attempts to please a king

King Ling of Chu’s preference for his officials to be thin-waisted saw them practically starve themselves in efforts to win royal approval.

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | From slapping body parts to National Games, China’s history of exercise

Used to train soldiers long before its benefits were taught to regular folk, exercise has become a matter of national resilience in China.

Art

The enigmatic collectors’ society opening its vault of Chinese masterpieces

Hundreds of exceptional works go on show at HKMoA as a famously discreet circle of collectors marks its 65th year.

The Engaging Past Wisdom: Min Chiu Society at Sixty-five exhibition at HKMoA includes a pendant of a dancing woman, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Chinese culture

Shameful period? How China’s Qing dynasty brought both wealth and humiliation

China’s final dynasty saw the arts and economy thrive under Manchu rule. But internal and external struggles corroded centuries of stability.

The Qianlong Emperor was the fifth emperor of China’s Qing dynasty, reigning from 1735-1796. Under the Manchus, China’s final dynasty was marked by flourishing arts and economic growth. But in 1912, the imperial system that had survived for centuries collapsed as the country entered the modern era.
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Andrew’s loss of ‘prince’ title echoes the downfall of China’s past royals

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s fall from prince to commoner mirrors how many disgraced royals in imperial China also lost their titles.

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Chinese culture

How China’s Ming dynasty brought us everything from porcelain to novels

The prosperous Ming dynasty restored Han Chinese rule after the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and introduced numerous cultural and social changes.

Chinese zodiac predictions

What’s your luck like in November 2025, the month of the Fire Pig?

The Pig symbolises wealth in Chinese culture – it’s also a ‘double month’, meaning both good luck and bad energy are doubled.

November is the month of the Fire Pig. Photo: Illustration: SCMP Graphics
Chinese culture

How China changed during the Yuan dynasty, when Mongols ruled

Mongol rulers shook up Chinese society as Silk Road trade routes thrived, paper money became common and China’s influence in Eurasia grew.

A statue of Kublai Khan, China’s first Mongol emperor, in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. The Yuan dynasty brought about big changes in China, but also a big increase in the country’s influence across Eurasia. Photo: AFP
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How Asean differs from the alliances of China’s Warring States Period

Asean’s consensus-driven approach, based on non-aggression, generally fosters regional peace, unlike the factious alliances in China’s past.

Women and gender

‘New women but no new men’: feminist evolution unfinished in China, scholar says

Wang Zheng says many women in China may have redefined their roles but, as with much social progress, there have been setbacks.

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