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Chinese culture

Cat figurines, called maneki neko, on display at Tokyo’s Gotokuji Temple. Photo: X
Architecture and design

Those ‘lucky cat’ figures? They’re not what you think

Numerous myths surround the maneki neko, but one thing is certain: these wealth-magnet felines are of Japanese origin, not Chinese.

Why the coming Year of the Wood Snake could be lucky

Chinese overseas

Being Chinese | I may not use my ‘beautiful’ Chinese name often, but I’m glad of the gift

Hong Kong cinema

How Taoist funeral customs inspired Hong Kong plays and a movie

From hit film The Last Dance to stage shows, Hong Kong writers use Chinese funerals to find meaning and help audiences cope with death.

Chu Pak-hong in a still from The Last Dance. Photo: Emperor Motion Pictures
China travel

Life, love and loss at museum of Chinese migrants’ letters home

People who left Chaoshan, southern China, for work sent back remittances and reflections on life. A museum in Shantou displays their letters.

Books and literature

Letters | Multilingual writers enrich the world’s literary canon

Readers discuss the challenges and rewards of writing in a non-native language, the decline in student performance in Hong Kong and hiring civil servants with disabilities.

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Asian cinema: Chinese films

Chinese film about Covid lockdown wins top prize in Taiwan awards

Lou Ye’s An Unfinished Film, winner of best film and best director at Golden Horse awards, ‘the most special directing job’, director says.

Qin Hao in a still from An Unfinished Film, by Chinese director Lou Ye, which won best film and best director at the 2024 Golden Horse awards in Taiwan on November 23, 2024.
Diplomacy

Opinion | China offers world an optimistic problem-solving framework

China’s collectivist world view isn’t about undermining individuality but about emphasising interdependence. The idea could reshape global governance.

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China’s Communist Party

How Xi Jinping is going back to Confucius to define China’s future

Xi’s plan to glorify China’s deep cultural roots is embodied in Ruzang, a compilation of the philosopher’s writings and related works.

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China exports

As China’s vertical dramas charm US, soft-influence exports offer risks, rewards

Facing oversaturation in China, short-form video companies are finding lucrative new markets abroad, even amid geopolitical tensions.

A director monitors from vertical screens while filming specialised short-video content that has become increasingly popular in the United States. Photo: Reuters
Fashion

How Chinese haute couture is taking on the fashion world

Chinese high-fashion designers have dressed everyone from Rihanna to royals in recent years and their presence is growing on global catwalks.

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Rihanna wears a dress by Guo Pei at the 2015 Met Gala in New York. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
China's population

China’s lonely-heart crisis fuels a growing ‘companionship economy’

As Chinese society becomes more atomised, consumers devoid of human interaction are increasingly opening their wallets to stave off loneliness.

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China trade

Can Chinese tea find favour in coffee-crazy US?

American fan of Chinese crosstalk comedy finds that cultural connection helps attract customers to online teahouse.

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China society

Female Chinese military pilot wows air show fans

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Books and literature

Being Chinese | English took me out of a Chinese factory, but not China out of me

I learned English as a bored young factory worker and began writing in it to avoid censorship. But my decision has come with pros and cons.

Students learn English in a classroom in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, in 2018. Photo: Shutterstock
SCMP Highlights

Recap | Ancient king’s tomb unearthed, a Song dynasty fashion shock and more historical finds

From ancient Chinese kings to cutting-edge AI in archaeology, explore fascinating discoveries that rewrite history in some of our recent stories looking into the past.

Weddings

Why is there a cake voucher with your Chinese wedding invite? We explain

A cake voucher often accompanies an invitation to a Chinese wedding, part of a practice that dates back centuries.

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China economy

Chinese workers to get 2 extra days’ holiday, including longer Lunar New Year

Two public holidays will be extended by a day, but the survival of the unpopular ‘holiday swap’ system tempers enthusiasm.

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Lunar New Year, the country’s biggest festival, will now be extended by an extra day. Photo: Xinhua

How Chinese wedding dresses are made and their meaning on the big day

Whether cheongsam or qun kua, here is what the colours and embroidery mean on Chinese wedding dresses and why some can take a year to make.

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Hong Kong

At Hong Kong’s Tam Jai noodle joint, waitresses are the stars

These ‘Tam Jai jeh jehs’ are not only the backbone of the beloved chain, they’ve even modelled for a fashion show with the Hong Kong Design Institute.

Climate change

Opinion | How feng shui can inspire China’s quest for environmental justice

China’s efforts to mitigate climate change and protect nature reveal a modern commitment to principles embodied by an ancient discipline.

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An offshore wind farm in Tangshan City in north China’s Hebei province. After the city began promoting the construction of wind and solar power plants, installed capacity of clean energy has reached 3.242 million kilowatts. Photo: Xinhua
China’s Communist Party

In mainland China, Taiwanese books wait in limbo as censors bolster barriers

Mainland editors say new rules and pressure from regulators have slowed publication of Taiwanese literature to a trickle since 2019.

Publishing industry insiders say censorship rules have taken a heavy toll on Taiwanese books in mainland China, where authors from the island have been popular. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

Meet the ‘Bourdain of China’ telling ‘amazing’ food stories on YouTube

Christopher St. Cavish is known for writing about soup dumplings. His new video series spotlights foods around China and those behind them.

Hong Kong culture

Chinese horoscopes: how’s your luck in November 2024, Water Pig month?

If you are a Pig like billionaire Elon Musk or royal Queen Camilla, November is all about being humble – but what about the other 11 Chinese astrological signs?

Weddings

What can you expect at a Chinese wedding banquet? All the dishes explained

Chefs in Hong Kong break down the must-eat dishes at Chinese wedding banquets and their names’ auspicious portents for the lucky couple.

A bridegroom and bride toast with friends and relatives at a wedding banquet in Shanghai. Chefs in Hong Kong break down Chinese wedding banquets must-haves. Photo: Shutterstock
Weddings

Chinese wedding games and what happens when they go too far

Games are a staple of Chinese weddings, but some get out of hand, resulting in abuse and injury that have sparked debate online.

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A still from a viral Chinese social media video of a woman being tied to a lamppost by men during a Chinese wedding hazing ritual. Photo: Weibo
China economy

Opinion | How can China’s reforms succeed when officials act like overbearing parents?

The ‘we-know-best’ mentality prevents market forces from playing a decisive role and affects investor confidence.

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Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong must give high-calibre talent a reason to come

Readers discuss how Hong Kong can attract well-connected professionals, a local ballet’s cross-cultural appeal, and why the second phase of the city’s plastic ban shouldn’t be delayed.

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Chinese culture
Latest news and updates on Chinese culture including the country’s traditions, food, values, history and festivals.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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