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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.
A woman buys a drink from Mixue outlet at a shopping centre in Sepang, Malaysia. Photo: AP
Asean

Asian Angle | Food for thought: how Chinese brands serve up soft power in Southeast Asia

Chinese F&B brands are becoming increasingly prominent, fuelling a familiarity with China that legitimates its stronger regional presence.

Chinese overseas

Being Chinese | What’s in a Singaporean Chinese name? It’s a long story

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How fortune-telling decided vital affairs of state in ancient China

Diplomacy

Opinion | Beijing Declaration a win for peace and dialogue between civilisations

China-led vision seeks to replace law of the jungle and Cold War mentality with respect for the diversity of civilisations and development.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilisations in Beijing on May 15, 2019. China has been promoting civilisational dialogue for years. Photo: Simon Song
Hong Kong culture

Do you know your gu fu from your yi ma? How to greet your Chinese relatives

Chinese family titles can be a minefield. From paternal grandfathers’ older brothers to mothers’ younger sisters, here are some useful ones.

Trending in China

Chinese man buys coffin for elderly mum to sit in, believes it promotes longevity

Traditional rural folk ritual sees woman in her 70s sitting in a coffin at the head of a procession which includes pallbearers and a brass band.

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Chinese language cinema

Chinese social media reacts to news of Ne Zha 2’s English version

Chinese internet users are generally positive over the announcement, with many trying to guess which character Michelle Yeoh will voice.

The titular character in a still from Ne Zha 2. An English language version of the hit Chinese animated film will be released in cinemas in select countries later in 2025.
Food and Drinks

On the Menu | Why the ‘Hermès’ and ‘Chanel’ of Chinese lychees are so sought-after

The delicate xian jin feng and super rare gua lu are the top two ranked lychee varieties according to a viral post on Chinese social media.

Horoscopes

Chinese horoscopes: what’s your luck like for July 2025, the Water Goat month?

Famous names born in the Year of the Goat include Ed Sheeran, Nicole Kidman, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Coco Chanel. Here’s a look at what the current Goat month has in store for you.

Chinese international students

Status, culture, cost: more Chinese students choosing Singapore as US declines

Universities in Singapore are beginning to offer programmes taught entirely in Mandarin and live support via WeChat for Chinese applicants.

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Singapore is home to six publicly funded autonomous universities as well as private universities and has long been a popular destination for Chinese students seeking an overseas education. Photo: EPA-EFE
Artificial intelligence

Young Chinese turn to AI to tell their fortune amid fear of the future

Uncertainty and pressure are causing many Chinese people to turn to astrology apps and AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for peace of mind.

Ling Ling (right), a fortune-teller from Hong Kong, reads a client’s fortune using tarot cards. She believes AI fortune-telling cannot compete with human fortune-tellers, as it cannot make adjustments based on an individual’s personality, life stage and their situation. Photo: Shutterstock
Art

How 20th-century Hong Kong and Guangdong art stood out from rest of China

A new exhibition at M+ features over 200 works by Cantonese artists as the Hong Kong-based museum addresses the region’s lineage and history.

Food and Drinks

Language Matters | Where did lychees come from and why are they an auspicious Chinese symbol?

The fruit’s Chinese name gave us the English word ‘lychee’, while wordplay bestowed upon it auspicious connotations.

Chinese overseas

Why Japan’s largest Chinatown is unlike any other around the world

More tourist attraction for locals than Chinese enclave, Yokohama Chinatown still boasts a fascinating history full of upheaval and survival.

Yokohama Chinatown’s transformation from its migrant enclave roots to today’s tourist attraction is one steeped in history and culture. Photo: Getty Images
China economy

Opinion | Labubu’s rise reflects hitmaker ability of China’s digital ecosystem

An ecosystem that combines e-commerce with social media, it turns users into marketers, breeds viral hits – and projects cultural power.

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A person holds up Labubu dolls in a store during a press tour to Pop Land, a theme park opened by Chinese toy company Pop Mart, in Beijing, China, on June 2. Photo: EPA-EFE
Chinese superstitions

What gifts must you avoid giving in Chinese culture? Clocks, shoes and more

Some common presents in the West are considered bad luck in Chinese culture. Avoid giving these items to friends and loved ones.

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China consumption

China’s museums find a solution to their cash flow woes: viral souvenirs

Museums are rushing to launch new ranges of themed merchandise as they try to tap into China’s ‘emotional consumption’ trend.

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Chinese zodiac predictions

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

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for love, career, health and finance for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

Year of the Snake zodiac figure. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Art

Chinese and Islamic carpets reveal interwoven histories in Hong Kong show

Centuries-old cultural ties between China and places such as Iran, India and Turkey are highlighted at a Hong Kong Palace Museum exhibition.

Hong Kong culture

From Leslie Cheung to Nicholas Tse, Cantopop’s Canadian connections revealed

A new exhibition at Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum highlights how migration played a major role for a host of major Cantopop stars.

China travel

China’s thrill-seekers eye adventure tourism as social media lures them off-grid

A growing contingent of Chinese tourists seeks ‘shareable’ and ‘off-the-beaten-path experiences’, away from the hustle and bustle of urban sightseeing.

A group climbs Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Photo: Shutterstock
China society

Opinion | Giving up seats to elderly should be an easy decision in China

Recent viral videos showing young people and elderly clashing over seats have raised fears of deteriorating public morality in China.

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A sculpture of Confucius, who taught that filial piety is the root of virtue. Photo: AFP
On Our Radar

M+ exhibition celebrates evolution of 20th century Cantonese art

The paintings, prints and other visual media of Guangdong show its transformative contribution to 20th century Chinese art.

Food and Drinks

The history of Chinese miso and why a Hong Kong version is so special

Forget Japanese miso soup, the Chinese have been making miso for over 2,000 years and some of the best can be had in Hong Kong.

China consumption

China urges officials to rein in overzealous dining austerity measures

With some Chinese localities biting off more than they can chew on meal restrictions, major Communist Party publications are encouraging restraint.

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Recent calls for frugality in official meals in China have led to some local governments taking extreme measures to show their compliance. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Food and Drinks

Dish in Focus: Xiamen-style popiah at Ming Pavilion

At Ming Pavilion, chef Jack Lam Yeung redefines Hokkien cuisine with new flavours while celebrating Fujian’s culinary heritage.

Xiamen-Style “popiah” at Ming Pavilion in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
Chinese overseas

How Vancouver’s Chinatown, plagued by poverty, fights for survival

Vancouver’s Chinatown faces a number of challenges, but its passionate community aims to revitalise and preserve its 140-year-old legacy.

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China’s Communist Party

Vibrant Chinese dining suffers from heavy-handed austerity control: state media

Months after official push to tighten belts, People’s Daily says overzealous enforcement will damage local economies and everyday life.

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