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China’s so-called “996” work culture imposes immense stress, a trend rooted in history that Chinese people have long struggled with. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Baidu

Trending in China

China ‘996’ culture goes back 2,200 years; work-life balance struggle is not new

From prison terms to the lash, punishments for laziness at work were harsh centuries ago when emperors and farmhands faced similar pressures.

Ancient Chinese women used crude contraceptives – ate tadpoles, ingested mercury

China ‘city of humour’ is only place with road signs warning drivers against joking

Trending in China

China girl pens farewell note, offers US$120 to pamper parents, highlights left-behind kids’ lives

Thoughtful 10-year-old saves up her lai see money then hands it to migrant worker mum and dad as they prepare to leave home.

A 10-year-old girl in China has moved many people online with a farewell note to her migrant worker parents, offering them US$120 of her lai see money to treat themselves. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
A 10-year-old girl in China has moved many people online with a farewell note to her migrant worker parents, offering them US$120 of her lai see money to treat themselves. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Trending in China

China boy, 14, skilled in wok spinning, praised for cooking, helping in parents’ shop

Kitchen-loving kid who honed his food preparation skills as a toddler admits being ‘average’ academically; cooks like a ‘professional chef’.

Gender & Diversity

China Qing era spawned female authors, poets, despite restrictions on women in arts

Like much of the world, China experienced a notable rise in women authorship during the 19th century, with three poets making a particularly profound impact.

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China Personalities

Wife of renowned China director Zhang Yimou remains largely unknown to public

Independent mother of three, who rarely appears on red carpet with husband, does ballet, appears on stage with her dancing daughter.

Chen Ting, the wife of renowned director Zhang Yimou, met Zhang at a casting event in 1999, after which their relationship blossomed and she decided to forgo her studies at a prestigious university. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu
Chen Ting, the wife of renowned director Zhang Yimou, met Zhang at a casting event in 1999, after which their relationship blossomed and she decided to forgo her studies at a prestigious university. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu

Gender & Diversity

China women living together for years spark debate on cohabitation and support

‘Best friends’ rent flat together after abusive marriages to men; story sheds light on country’s long history of ‘collective’ female living.

Trending in China

Foreigners flock to Chinese malatang eateries, believe rich soup is healthy

‘Spicy, numbing, hot’ delicacy becomes go-to dish for birthdays and dates around the globe; aficionados describe it as a ‘personal hotpot’.

People & Culture

Ancient China had food delivery services; emperors even ordered meals via eunuchs

Lingering ‘idle men’ who hung about outside restaurants preceded today’s delivery drivers; others had their food sent using sedan chairs.

Ancient China had its own food delivery system long before today’s incarnation. Emperors ordered meals through eunuchs to connect with the people. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/Zhihu

Trending in China

Chinese man adopted by Canadian family reunites with birth father after abandonment

28-year-old who became lost in China railway station aged 4 was adopted by couple who took him home only to dump him when they divorced few months later.

A Chinese man was recently reunited with his biological father after being lost at a railway station at the age of four before being adopted by a Canadian couple who later abandoned him. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
A Chinese man was recently reunited with his biological father after being lost at a railway station at the age of four before being adopted by a Canadian couple who later abandoned him. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Trending in China

Dozens of pet carcasses found on China road, unsafe transport by owners blamed

Trail of animal destruction leaves blogging dog lover with ‘heartache’; pet expert warns of ‘sickness, nerves, fear, defecation’ on unsafe travels.

Trending in China

Chinese man discovers 10 grams of gold particles inside duck, worth US$1,800

Lucrative find in slaughtered quacker comes under scrutiny as doubts emerge about bird’s ability to digest precious metal.

Gender & Diversity

Taiwan actress, 58, praised for ‘youthful’ looks opposes ‘female competition’

Former teen idol says she strives to be a ‘radiant mum’; calls on women to find partners who respect them for who they are.

Annie Yi, a well-known 58-year-old Taiwanese singer and actress, recently took to social media to advocate for an end to “female competition”, saying that she does not seek validation for looking “as youthful as a teenager.” Photo: Weibo

Trending in China

‘War can be so close’: China honeymooners split in Doha after US strikes Iran

Stranded husband decides to save money, hassle by staying behind in conflict-hit city as wife flies out before region’s airports shut down.

A honeymooning couple from China were separated in Doha after Qatar closed its airspace following US strikes on Iran. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/X.com
A honeymooning couple from China were separated in Doha after Qatar closed its airspace following US strikes on Iran. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/X.com

Trending in China

China hospital calls manicurist to remove woman’s fake nails before vital treatment

Cosmetic adornment stops hospital staff taking crucial readings from heart attack patient ahead of life-saving work.

China Personalities

China actress, 75, sparks debate playing teen, kissing much younger actor in TV drama

Gender equality activist questions if same criticism would arise if a male actor 30 years older than his female co-star took on similar role.

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People & Culture

Indonesian wife, 24, surprised husband, 62, was groom at event she attended at 9

After a young Indonesian woman married a much older man who had wed twice before, she realised they had met at one of his other nuptials when she was a child.

A 19-year-old Indonesian woman finds out after marrying a man aged 57, that she attended a previous wedding of his when she was just nine years old. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
A 19-year-old Indonesian woman finds out after marrying a man aged 57, that she attended a previous wedding of his when she was just nine years old. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com

China Personalities

Profile | Mystery Chinese woman steals show at 2024 Cannes Film Festival, but who is she?

A mystery woman from China, who stole the show on the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has been revealed to be a rich online influencer and wife of a famous mainland musician.

Trending in China

Singaporean influencer becomes grandmother at 34, jokes that she ‘inspired’ son

A popular online influencer in Singapore who has become a grandmother at the age of 34 has pledged to support and guide her 17-year-old son.

Trending in China

Man has child by surrogate without telling family as he wants to be grandfather

A 50-something woman in China was shocked to find a baby in her home when she got in from work one day, and that the child belonged to her husband who had hired a surrogacy agency without telling her.

A man had secretly hired a surrogacy agency to get a baby girl after his only daughter told him she did not want to have children. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Foot binding in China: tales from Yunnan women who underwent the practice

Foot binding in China: tales from Yunnan women who underwent the practice

Foot binding may seem abhorrent today but the resulting deformity once conveyed privilege and status, say some of the women who experienced the pain firsthand. 

Reading Time:8 minutes
Cattle at Mayura Station, located on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Photo: courtesy Mayura Station

Can Cadbury chocolate-fed Wagyu outshine Japan’s finest beef?

Reading Time:4 minutes
The Tower of Heavenly Success with the Tan River in the background, in Majianglong, Taishan. Photo: Graeme Kennedy

The Chinese city where waffles, watchtowers and world history meet

Reading Time:8 minutes
Wang Zhenxi, aka Teacher Wang, is a mistress dispeller based in Luoyang, Henan province. Photo: courtesy Mistress Dispeller

This Hong Kong-raised director makes films about outsiders – as she’s one too

Reading Time:6 minutes
Chinese writer Hu Anyan pictured in People’s Park, Chengdu, China. Photo: Eric Mast

He thought his life was a failure. Then he wrote it down.

Reading Time:5 minutes
Max Levy (left) is one of the talents due to take up a residency at Chef’s Room. Photo: courtesy Chef’s Room

Our cheat sheet for the best things to do in Hong Kong and Macau, March 8-14

Reading Time:2 minutes
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MULTIMEDIA
Article

Stalking, illegal tracking, assault: is China’s fan culture off the rails?

When obsession tips over into stalking a number of studies have found that the stalked celebrity often represented an idealised version of the stalker. Photo: CGTN
Article

His son’s rare disease turned this Chinese father into a home-grown drug-maker

Despite having only a high-school education, a father in Kunming taught himself how to produce drugs for his son who suffers from Menkes disease. Photo: Weibo
Video

Zip line ‘retires’ after 20 years in China

Thrilling commuter zip line ‘retires’ in southwest China after 20 years
02:35
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China’s female comedians tackle stereotypes

China’s new wave of young women stand-up comedians tackle stereotypes
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