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SCMP

We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. Are you ageing well? 5 simple tests to get a picture of your biological age

We can do simple tests like these at home to assess how well we are ageing, allowing us to compare our chronological age (the number of years we have lived) with our biological age (how well our cells and systems are ageing).
2. Inside the 14k, the Hong Kong triad that went global

From its roots in mainland China to expansion in Hong Kong and beyond, we look at the history of one of the most notorious triad societies.
3. The wild journey behind Tony Leung Ka-fai’s Hong Kong Film Awards record
Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Leung has navigated industry blacklists, underworld coercion, shifting political landscapes, tabloid scrutiny and his own missteps – including two drink-driving convictions in the 2000s – to remain Hong Kong cinema’s ultimate survivor.
4. How this 60-year-old Singaporean is defying age through pole dancing and fashion

At 60, Vicsland Poh is not just ageing – she is polishing a second act that challenges every cliché of the silver years. By taking up diverse physical challenges and pursuing new knowledge, she proves that a person’s seventh decade can be one of expansion.
5. The Scarecrow: serial killer K-drama echoes the landmark Memories of Murder
From its opening moments and all through its first two episodes, ENA’s new period investigative drama The Scarecrow is unable to escape the spectre of Bong Joon-ho’s landmark crime thriller Memories of Murder, a 2003 film whose influence continues to loom large over the local industry.
6. Not just home to Lao Gan Ma, Guizhou is where China’s chilli culture was born

Ask food lovers where to find the best spicy food in China and they will often point to regions such as Sichuan, known for its numbing mala, or Hunan, with its chilli-spiced fish. In reality, the spark for spice started in a mountainous, landlocked province that few outside China have heard of: Guizhou, where China’s chilli culture was born.
7. Meet the Hong Kong chef serving tastes of city’s past using new techniques
Born into a working-class family in Tai Po, in Hong Kong’s New Territories, Wong has spent 35 years working in the city’s most prestigious kitchens. He talks about tapping into memories to recreate flavours of 1980s Hong Kong.


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SCMP Highlights

A 60-year-old Singaporean pole dancer, Guizhou’s spicy food: 7 Lifestyle highlights

The “flamingo” test - balancing on one leg - is one of the ways you can assess how well you are ageing. Photo: Shutterstock

Hand grip strength, an “indispensable biomarker for older adults”, is measured with a dynamometer. Photo: Shutterstock

The 1956 Hong Kong riots resulted in 59 deaths while more than 500 people were injured. Photo: SCMP

On this Instagram post of her pole dancing, Poh quotes: “A journey without laughter is the quickest path to misery.” Photo: Instagram/skeletalwombat

A fermented chilli fish dish at Zui Qian Xian. Photo: Llewellyn Cheung

Yo-Yo Ma, Gustavo Dudamel among stars of HK Phil’s 2026-27 season

Yo-Yo Ma will perform Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 with the HK Phil at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on January 25, 2027. The American cellist is one of the big names in the star-studded line-up for HK Phil’s coming concert season. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Tarmo Peltokoski, music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, speaks at the season launch ceremony at The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel on April 27. Photo: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

Gustavo Dudamel will make his HK Phil debut from February 11-14, 2027. Photo: AFP

Long Yu will serve as the HK Phil’s principal guest conductor for the 2026-27 season. Photo: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

What is ‘nonnamaxxing’? Viral health trend embraces an Italian grandmother’s lifestyle

Embrace Italian nonna habits like cooking, walking, and less screen time for a healthier, happier life - at least, that is what TikTok users believe as “nonnamaxxing” takes off online. Photo: dpa

“Nonnamaxxing” encourages people to adopt the simple habits of an Italian grandmother, or “nonna”, such as gardening and daily walking. Photo: Shutterstock

Licia Fertz is an Italian woman who describes herself as an “accidentally aged model and influencer”. Photo: Instagram/liciafertz

How this Hong Kong chef cooks ‘old style’ tastes of the city using innovative techniques

Kan Wong, the executive Chinese chef of Celestial Court at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, talks about cooking to recapture a time “before all the awards and social media and plating became important”. Photo: Celestial Court

Steamed sliced grouper with black mushroom and Yunnan ham is one of Wong’s signature dishes at Celestial Court. Photo: Celestial Court

Fried rice and glutinous rice with diced preserved meat, liver sausages, black mushrooms and dried scallops in a casserole is another of Wong’s signature dishes at Celestial Court. Photo: Celestial Court

Wong’s signature sautéed vegetarian shark fin with shredded abalone, crabmeat, dried scallops, bean sprouts and egg. Photo: Celestial Court

It started with Crazy Rich Asians. How mahjong is booming across the US

Hien Kim (centre) gives advice to the rest of her table during a monthly meeting of the Honour Tile Society mahjong club at Hot Shot Coffee in Denver, in the US. Photo: TNS

Gary Tong (centre) helps other players strategise during a monthly meeting of the Honour Tile Society mahjong club. Photo: TNS

Honour Tile Society lead organiser Tiffany Leong points a player to a table with room for one more. Photo: TNS

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Chinese Zodiac

Entertainment

Food & Drink

From a 60-year-old Singaporean keeping fit with pole dancing to the birthplace of China’s chilli culture, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting


From a 60-year-old Singaporean keeping fit with pole dancing to the birthplace of China’s chilli culture, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.


Hong Kong

China

Singapore

Tony Leung Ka-fai

A 60-year-old Singaporean pole dancer, Guizhou’s spicy food: 7 Lifestyle highlights

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From a 60-year-old Singaporean keeping fit with pole dancing to the birthplace of China’s chilli culture, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. Are you ageing well? 5 simple tests to get a picture of your biological age

From a 60-year-old Singaporean keeping fit with pole dancing to the birthplace of China’s chilli culture, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting