Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Chinese culture

Chinese culture
Latest news and updates on Chinese culture including the country’s traditions, food, values, history and festivals.
An elderly woman washes clothes the old-fashioned way in a river in Fenghuang Ancient Town in China’s Hunan province. Before the advent of washing machines and chemical detergents, laundry was a labour-intensive affair shaped by local environments and available materials, with clothes typically washed in rivers or streams. Photo: Shutterstock
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How the Chinese did laundry before washing machines: ash ‘soap’, stone beatings

Before chemical detergents and modern equipment, Chinese people kept their clothes clean with little more than river water, wood and ash.

Icons and Influencers

Couture craft meets whimsical walls in Laura Cheung’s Lala Curio

China’s film industry

How a tiny indie movie sparked a major tourist boom in southern China

4
Mainland China

Being Chinese | How to deal with this ‘very Chinese time’ in Western lives

The question is not whether outsiders are getting China or Chinese culture right, but what we choose to do with their attention.

Foreign tourists in traditional Chinese costumes take photos near the Forbidden City in Beijing on April 16. Photo: AP
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Video | Executive chef offers insight into Xi-Trump banquet

The state banquet menu blended Chinese cuisine and Western favourites, with a nod to the US president’s personal tastes.

Asian diaspora

Why Chinese-Canadian Derek Kwan is so much more than a ‘token Asian’ actor

As Hallmark’s mahjong movie faces a backlash, actor Derek Kwan talks about championing authentic Asian narratives by making his own films.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Horoscopes

Horoscopes: what’s your luck like in May and early June 2026, Water Snake month?

Snakes will have to work harder, Dragons can play to their strengths, and Rabbits should pay attention to health this month.

What’s your luck like in the Water Snake month from May 6 to June 4? Illustration: SCMP Graphics
2026 Xi-Trump summit

The message China wants to send by hosting Trump at Temple of Heaven

Beijing urges US president ‘to hold the line on peaceful coexistence’ as it prepares to host him at heritage site.

videocam
12
Asian cinema: Chinese films

Review | A Man and a Woman: Hong Kong-set quarantine drama is a tough watch

Neighbouring hotel guests develop a relationship over the course of their 21-day quarantine in Hong Kong in Guan Hu’s pandemic-set drama.

videocam
Food and Drinks

‘Liquid yin and yang’? How Hong Kong bartenders work with Chinese chefs

Leading mixologists from Duddell’s, Vea and Mott 32 share their tips on curating ideal flavour pairings between cocktails and courses.

In Hong Kong, Duddell’s cocktails draw inspiration from the Ba Gua and are specifically designed to pair with the restaurant’s Cantonese cuisine. Photo: Handout
Wellness

Why tai chi and qigong are great for health, and English classes in Hong Kong

The Chinese ‘internal’ arts of tai chi and qigong offer a host of health benefits and are slowly becoming more accessible to English speakers.

Lawrence Tse leads a class outside the tea museum in Hong Kong Park. Photo: Lawrence Tse
Asia travel

Best things to do in China’s Nanjing, from food and architecture to history

Planning a weekend in Nanjing? Here’s an itinerary to consider for visiting the bustling metropolis in eastern China.

Food and Drinks

Mandarin peel ice cream? Chun pei, a TCM ingredient, is gaining favour

Dried mandarin peel was first used in dishes to impress Chinese emperors. Today, it can be found in everything from drinks to desserts.

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this Mother’s Day weekend, May 8-10

From an artisan Mother’s Day market to food, fashion and music, check out our recommendations for things to do around the city this weekend.

videocam
Sapphire Shen (front), a lupus patient and founder of My Lupus Diary, is pictured at The Lupus Revolution, an inspiring awareness and fundraising event, in May 2024. This weekend, Shen will hold The Lupus Revolution Vol. 2 in Hong Kong’s Central neighbourhood. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Style Edit

Style Edit: Chow Tai Fook’s Dawn collection, where elegance meets artistry

Tang dynasty Baoxiang florals, classy enamel hues and fluid gold craftsmanship make for a timeless collection of rings, bangles and necklaces.

Chow Tai Fook’s Dawn collection refines tradition. Photo: Handout
Trending in China

In China, number of clothing buttons holds meaning; specific counts assigned for the dead

According to Chinese tradition, the manner in which a person does their garment up can have consequences, from bad luck to taking a beating.

Art

Gardens of China and Europe juxtaposed in spectacular Hong Kong exhibition

A new exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art features works including Monet’s water lilies and Qing dynasty masterpieces.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Chinese history

Beautiful, power-hungry: how Wu Zetian became China’s only female emperor

A legitimate ruler for 15 years – but de facto leader for years more than that – Wu Zetian is remembered as a complex character.

Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, reigned as a legitimate leader in China during the last 15 years of her life in her short-lived Wu Zhou dynasty (690-705). Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why Angela Mao, aka ‘the new Bruce Lee’, was a better fighter than Michelle Yeoh

Angela Mao, star of hits like Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind, was billed as the ‘new Bruce Lee’ by Golden Harvest after his death.

videocam
6
China’s soft power

Why are modern Chinese audiences shying away from dubbed films?

Greater subtitle literacy among streaming viewers is among factors chipping away at enthusiasm for dubbed movies in China.

videocam
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Ancient Chinese sleep advice, from bedtimes and body positions to state of mind

For premodern Chinese people, sleep was much more than daily rest – it was a cultivated discipline and a medical necessity.

The ancient Chinese believed that the ideal sleep schedule followed nature’s rhythms, and rising early was prized. Photo: Shutterstock
Donald Trump

Why King Charles’ ‘Trump bell’ gift amuses Chinese internet users

The king’s present – which came just days after the third assassination attempt on Trump – is a Chinese homophone for ‘attending the dying’.

videocam
18
King Charles gives a state dinner speech at the White House on April 28, with the ship’s bell bearing the inscription “Trump 1944” to his right. Photo: AP
Food and Drinks

Asian-American mother challenges tough Chinese traditions for new mums

Clarissa Wei’s cookbook ‘Sitting the Month’ puts a modern spin on the traditional Chinese foods typically given to post-partum mothers.

Food and Drinks

On the Menu | It is sweet how Chinese desserts are having their moment again

Dubai chocolate, croffles and matcha tarts are temporary, while Chinese sweet soups – known as tong sui in Cantonese – are forever.

Mahjong

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

Thriving mahjong clubs in places like Denver are fostering community and connection across generations and cultures.

videocam
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
Food and Drinks

At London restaurant Ikoyi, Jeremy Chan gives a taste of his Hong Kong childhood

Jeremy Chan spent his first eight years in Hong Kong. His menu on April 23 for two-Michelin-star restaurant Ikoyi, in London, reflected that.

Chef Jeremy Chan’s one-off menu on April 23, 2026, at Ikoyi, London, was inspired by his Hong Kong childhood. Photo: Haejo Nam
Style Edit

Style Edit: Poly MGM Museum’s new ‘Silk Roads Beyond Borders’ treasures

New Italian and Persian treasures make their Asia debut, expanding the museum’s Silk Road narrative with rare works that illuminate centuries of East-West exchange.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

The bloody legacy of The One-Armed Swordsman film sequels

The two follow-ups to The One-Armed Swordsman are somewhat different to the original hit film but plenty of blood runs through all three.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement