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Chinese culture

Writing as a non-native speaker is a journey of growth and discovery. Photo: Shutterstock
Books and literature

Letters | Multilingual writers enrich the world’s literary canon

Readers discuss the challenges and rewards of writing in a non-native language, the decline in student performance in Hong Kong and hiring civil servants with disabilities.

Asian cinema: Chinese films

Chinese film about Covid lockdown wins top prize in Taiwan awards

Diplomacy

Opinion | China offers world an optimistic problem-solving framework

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China’s Communist Party

How Xi Jinping is going back to Confucius to define China’s future

Xi’s plan to glorify China’s deep cultural roots is embodied in Ruzang, a compilation of the philosopher’s writings and related works.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China exports

As China’s vertical dramas charm US, soft-influence exports offer risks, rewards

Facing oversaturation in China, short-form video companies are finding lucrative new markets abroad, even amid geopolitical tensions.

Fashion

How Chinese haute couture is taking on the fashion world

Chinese high-fashion designers have dressed everyone from Rihanna to royals in recent years and their presence is growing on global catwalks.

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China's population

China’s lonely-heart crisis fuels a growing ‘companionship economy’

As Chinese society becomes more atomised, consumers devoid of human interaction are increasingly opening their wallets to stave off loneliness.

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China’s single population is increasingly turning to various forms of paid companionship – from chatting with strangers online to virtual role-playing games. Photo: Shutterstock
China trade

Can Chinese tea find favour in coffee-crazy US?

American fan of Chinese crosstalk comedy finds that cultural connection helps attract customers to online teahouse.

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China society

Female Chinese military pilot wows air show fans

Books and literature

Being Chinese | English took me out of a Chinese factory, but not China out of me

I learned English as a bored young factory worker and began writing in it to avoid censorship. But my decision has come with pros and cons.

Students learn English in a classroom in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, in 2018. Photo: Shutterstock
SCMP Highlights

Recap | Ancient king’s tomb unearthed, a Song dynasty fashion shock and more historical finds

From ancient Chinese kings to cutting-edge AI in archaeology, explore fascinating discoveries that rewrite history in some of our recent stories looking into the past.

Chinese scientists have created a digital reconstruction of a wealthy woman’s clothing from the Southern Song dynasty. Photo: Wuhan Textile University
Weddings

Why is there a cake voucher with your Chinese wedding invite? We explain

A cake voucher often accompanies an invitation to a Chinese wedding, part of a practice that dates back centuries.

China economy

Chinese workers to get 2 extra days’ holiday, including longer Lunar New Year

Two public holidays will be extended by a day, but the survival of the unpopular ‘holiday swap’ system tempers enthusiasm.

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How Chinese wedding dresses are made and their meaning on the big day

Whether cheongsam or qun kua, here is what the colours and embroidery mean on Chinese wedding dresses and why some can take a year to make.

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Qun kwa, a type of wedding dress worn in Hong Kong and other parts of southern China, comes in different grades based on how much of the red base fabric is covered with gold and silver embroidery. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong

At Hong Kong’s Tam Jai noodle joint, waitresses are the stars

These ‘Tam Jai jeh jehs’ are not only the backbone of the beloved chain, they’ve even modelled for a fashion show with the Hong Kong Design Institute.

A female staff member carrying out a bowl of soup noodles at a Tam Jai restaurant in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Photo: Alexander Mak
Climate change

Opinion | How feng shui can inspire China’s quest for environmental justice

China’s efforts to mitigate climate change and protect nature reveal a modern commitment to principles embodied by an ancient discipline.

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China’s Communist Party

In mainland China, Taiwanese books wait in limbo as censors bolster barriers

Mainland editors say new rules and pressure from regulators have slowed publication of Taiwanese literature to a trickle since 2019.

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Food and Drinks

Meet the ‘Bourdain of China’ telling ‘amazing’ food stories on YouTube

Christopher St. Cavish is known for writing about soup dumplings. His new video series spotlights foods around China and those behind them.

A dumpling master preparing the dough for Chinese soup dumplings. Photo: Sheila Zhao
Hong Kong culture

Chinese horoscopes: how’s your luck in November 2024, Water Pig month?

If you are a Pig like billionaire Elon Musk or royal Queen Camilla, November is all about being humble – but what about the other 11 Chinese astrological signs?

Weddings

What can you expect at a Chinese wedding banquet? All the dishes explained

Chefs in Hong Kong break down the must-eat dishes at Chinese wedding banquets and their names’ auspicious portents for the lucky couple.

Weddings

Chinese wedding games and what happens when they go too far

Games are a staple of Chinese weddings, but some get out of hand, resulting in abuse and injury that have sparked debate online.

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A still from a viral Chinese social media video of a woman being tied to a lamppost by men during a Chinese wedding hazing ritual. Photo: Weibo
China economy

Opinion | How can China’s reforms succeed when officials act like overbearing parents?

The ‘we-know-best’ mentality prevents market forces from playing a decisive role and affects investor confidence.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong must give high-calibre talent a reason to come

Readers discuss how Hong Kong can attract well-connected professionals, a local ballet’s cross-cultural appeal, and why the second phase of the city’s plastic ban shouldn’t be delayed.

Weddings

From combing hair to gifting a suckling pig, Chinese wedding rituals

Find out who conducts the pre-wedding hair-combing ceremony, how to play door games on the big day and the role a red umbrella plays.

Being Chinese

Being Chinese | We’re Chinese and we fight to pay for dinner

Economic and societal shifts have forced me to reconsider the fight-to-pay ritual at multi-generation family gatherings.

At the end of a Chinese family meal, it is common to see the tug of war over who picks up the bill. Photo: Shutterstock
Chow Tai Fook

How Chow Tai Fook is reviving ancient Chinese culture for the 21st century

The Guangzhou-founded, Hong Kong-based jewellery brand is honouring the traditions and craftsmanship of Chinese culture, while infusing them with design sensibilities resonating with modern consumers.

Models wearing pieces from Chow Tai Fook’s Palace Museum collection walk down the runway at the brand’s 95th anniversary presentation at Rosewood Beijing. Photos: Handout
Trending in China

Explainer | How China police use Mazu deity to mediate disputes with remarkable success

An old Chinese saying goes, ‘There are gods three feet above your head’, which means ‘God is watching’.

Hong Kong culture

Why gold jewellery is an important part of traditional Chinese weddings

Gold is traditionally a big part of a Chinese wedding, and the bride wears as much jewellery as possible on her wedding day.

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Chinese culture
Latest news and updates on Chinese culture including the country’s traditions, food, values, history and festivals.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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