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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.
Heidi Lau at M+ in Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
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

Fashion

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

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.

In imperial China, wishing someone a happy new year was anything but casual. Among people of status, it was a highly formal affair, governed by etiquette, hierarchy and a good deal of social anxiety. Photo: Sina
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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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.

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.

Hu Anyan’s book, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, is a visceral, ground-level tour of China’s service economy over two decades. Photo: Jelly Tse
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.

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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A box of Conspiracy Chocolate’s latest Lunar New Year collection showcases “mahjong tiles” displayed in a winning “13 Orphans” hand. The chocolate set has sparked a cultural appropriation debate over its unlucky symbolism. Photo: Conspiracy Chocolate
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.

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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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Year of the Horse 2026

Saddle up with lucky horse-motif jewellery for the Lunar New Year

Anna Hu, Cece Jewellery, Jade Trau, YSSO, Roxanne First and Lionheart are among the jewellers embracing equestrian motifs.

Cece Jewellery’s A Traveller’s Tale is among the equestrian-themed collections being rolled out ahead of the Year of the Horse. Photo: Handout
Chinese zodiac predictions

Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for Snakes, from money to health

Snakes will enjoy increased wealth and stable relationships in the Year of the Fire Horse, but curse stars will bring ailments and stress.

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be a lucky one for Snakes? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha shares her predictions for wealth, relationships and health. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Chinese zodiac predictions

Is the Year of the Snake’s 12th month lucky for you? Forecasts for all signs

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances.

Food and Drinks

5 lucky foods to savour this Lunar New Year for wealth and happiness

Here are the lucky dishes to eat this festive season, from prosperity-generating oysters to biang biang noodles symbolising a long life.

Food and Drinks

How dumplings spread across Asia and Europe and tips on making your own

From ravioli to gyoza and pierogi, dumplings are one of the world’s most popular foods. Find out how easy they are to make at home.

FILED - Wantan, Chinese filled dumplings, here served with chilli oil. Photo: ---/asiastreetfood.com/dpa-tmn - ATTENTION: editorial use only in connection with the aforementioned text and only if the credit mentioned above is referenced in full
China society

Opinion | In China, the pressure on women to marry is deadly serious

Wedding-day death of Henan teacher highlights desperation of young women caught between modern hopes and traditional expectations.

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Some people in China are sharing AI-generated videos of middle-aged single women crying in hospitals, regretting their choice not to marry or have children. Photo: SCMP composite / Shutterstock / Douyin
Food and Drinks

How did China’s dan dan mian noodle dish become so popular in Japan?

Known as tantanmen in Japan, the sesame-flavoured noodles have spread across the country and appear in a variety of creative takes.

Chinese history

Why Asia’s historic Silk Road should have been called the ‘Horse Road’

It was China’s desperate need for good warhorses that spawned history’s most famous trade network, animals it paid for in silk and then tea.

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