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Our most-read PostMag stories of 2024, from Donald Trump’s yacht sale, to martial arts star Sammo Hung and the Taylor Swift of ancient China

What were the most popular stories with our online readers this year? Donald Trump was the winner, as a look back at his attempt to sell his yacht in Hong Kong was No 1 on our charts …

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Taylor Swift, here performing during her Eras Tour in Vancouver, British Columbia, in December, has been compared to famous ancient Chinese singer Yongxin in one of PostMag’s top five best-read stories of 2024. Photo: AP
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From Donald Trump’s bid to sell an overpriced yacht and an ancient Chinese version of Taylor Swift, to Hong Kong martial arts legend Sammo Hung and the untimely death of iconic singer Teresa Teng, here are our favourite, most-read online stories of the year from PostMag, formerly known as Post Magazine.

1. When Donald Trump tried to sell for US$115 million a yacht he bought for US$30 million from the Sultan of Brunei

The Trump Princess crossing Victoria Harbour in 1990, when future US president Donald Trump tried to sell the yacht in Hong Kong for US$115 million. He had paid the Sultan of Brunei US$30 million for the vessel three years earlier. Photo: Robert Ng
The Trump Princess crossing Victoria Harbour in 1990, when future US president Donald Trump tried to sell the yacht in Hong Kong for US$115 million. He had paid the Sultan of Brunei US$30 million for the vessel three years earlier. Photo: Robert Ng

In 1990, Donald Trump attempted to sell the Trump Princess yacht for US$115 million, despite purchasing it for US$30 million from the Sultan of Brunei. Hong Kong ship brokers doubted it would attract serious bids, considering the inflated price, reported the South China Morning Post at the time.

2. What the butler saw: Teresa Teng’s death in Chiang Mai in Thailand, and how she found love there

A picture of a young Teresa Teng in Bangkok from The Story of Teresa Teng by Billy. A former employee of the Chiang Mai hotel recalls the happiness she found there and what happened on the day she died in 1995. Photo: The Story of Teresa Teng by Billy
A picture of a young Teresa Teng in Bangkok from The Story of Teresa Teng by Billy. A former employee of the Chiang Mai hotel recalls the happiness she found there and what happened on the day she died in 1995. Photo: The Story of Teresa Teng by Billy

Teresa Teng, the iconic singer, died tragically in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1995, sparking numerous conspiracy theories. Her untimely death at the height of her fame, aged just 42, could perhaps be compared to the deaths of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana. A former employee of the hotel where she died recalls that fateful day.

3. How Taylor Swift’s Singapore effect could only have been achieved in ancient China by one singer, who briefly soared before losing everything

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