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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.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
The Year of the Snake will bring good luck for Dogs. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Dogs, from finances to romance

Dogs will earn more this year amid financial pitfalls. It’s a good year for love and marriage but mediocre for health – avoid certain places.

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Old Hong Kong

Then & Now | How Chinese medicinal wines became just the tonic in Hong Kong

Lunar New Year

Editorial | It is time to make Lunar New Year red lai see packets greener

Martial arts

Martial artists honouring Bruce Lee teacher on their love of wing chun

More than 100 martial artists from around the world gathered in Hong Kong at an event dedicated to Wong Shun-leung, student of Ip Man.

Pure Ving Tsun boss Jerry Yeung (left) and martial arts actor Philip Ng train at PVT Group Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui on November 24, 2024. Both attended an event in honour of wing chun master Wong Shun-leung in November. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Roosters, such as lots of money

Congratulations, Roosters – according to Chinese geomancy, you can expect easy money, career growth and a social whirl in Year of the Snake.

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Art

New interest in viral Donald Trump as Buddha figures by Chinese sculptor

Sculptor Hong Jinshi’s Buddha-like Trump figures went viral in 2021, and since the US election are back in demand. His new focus? Elon Musk.

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Hong Kong society

Palace Museum to bring Islamic, Tutankhamun relics to Hong Kong in 2025

Museum’s number of visitors fell by 17 per cent last year to 1 million, compared with 1.2 million in 2023.

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An exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase the legendary life of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Asian Angle | Malaysians’ embrace of Mandarin is a win for multiculturalism

A rise in Mandarin fluency is shown to help foster positive attitudes and reduce prejudice, but challenges remain in boosting inclusivity.

Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake may be unlucky for Snakes. How to avoid misfortune

The Lunar New Year in 2025 heralds the Year of the Snake. It’s bad news if the Snake is your zodiac – you’ll be hit by the ‘12-year curse’.

Lunar New Year

Being Chinese | Who’s Singaporean and stressing over Lunar New Year food abroad? Not me

Grappling with being the sole source of Singapore Chinese culture for my children, I have focused on transmitting it through food.

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A Chinese lion dance is performed in the streets of Chinatown for the Lunar New Year in London, Britain, on January 21, 2023. While London marks the occasion with festive pop-ups, that’s not the case in most other parts of the UK. Photo: Reuters
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | The earliest Chinese lotteries, and a cheating operator’s gruesome death

Various forms of lottery have existed in China for centuries, as have attempts to ban them for reasons like the social problems they induce.

People queue to buy lottery tickets at a branch of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in the city’s Central business district for the Mark Six Snowball draw of HK$100 million on January 2, 2025. Photo: Edmond So

Video | Chinese engineer turns to tofu to revive home village

Luo Zhaoliu quit his high-paying job as an engineer in the city and returned home to start a fermented tofu business.

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Lunar New Year

Why are there fewer babies born during the Year of the Snake?

Many think those born under the Snake will be unlucky. On the other hand, fewer births means less competition for things like school places.

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Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Monkeys, such as a big career boost

Monkeys can expect career advancements – especially if they work with women or are in a women-led industry – according to Chinese geomancy.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Fame and celebrity

16 new spiders have just been named after Jay Chou’s songs

In 2011, Taiwan’s astronomers named an asteroid after the Mandopop star – now, a scientist has brought us ‘Excuse spider’ and ‘Rainbow spider’.

Jay Chou performs at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center in November 2019. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong tourism

100,000 spectators expected at Hong Kong Lunar New Year float parade

Night parade will be held on the first day of the Year of the Snake, showcasing 55 performance groups, including K-pop band Kep1er.

Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Sheep, including their lucky colour

According to Chinese geomancy, those born in the Year of the Sheep will make money this year if they are careful – but love won’t come easy.

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Food and Drinks

What is that red Chinese candy box you see during Lunar New Year?

The chuen hup, also known as a togetherness box, is full of tiny sweet treats that carry rich cultural connotations and auspicious meanings.

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A traditional chuen hup usually has eight compartments, and the snacks within are collectively called the “Eight Sweets”. The typical line-up – all candied – consists of lotus root, lotus seeds, water chestnuts, winter melon, carrot slices, kumquat, coconut shreds and coconut wedges. Photo: Shutterstock
Horoscopes

Chinese horoscopes: what does January 2025 hold for your zodiac sign?

The final phase of the Dragon year is about balance, reflection and preparing for the Year of the Snake – discover your potential challenges and opportunities ahead.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

5 martial arts films that feature the snake style of Shaolin kung fu

From an early Jackie Chan film to Kung Fu Panda and The Karate Kid, here are five movies where snake kung fu appears.

Food and Drinks

How 1,000-year-old lost art of Chinese tea ceremony is being revived

Latte art has got nothing on the ancient Chinese art of drawing on tea foam whipped up with a bamboo whisk, these days using matcha.

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Hot water is gently poured into the tea bowl before whisking begins. Photo: Kayla Chan
Cantonese culture

Who is a ‘snake king’? What is a ‘snake nest’? Twisty Cantonese slang explained

Why do police ‘release snakes’? How do students ‘bend snakes’? We untangle six Cantonese slang expressions that use the word ‘snake’.

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What is a “snake king”? Where do you find a ‘“snake nest” and why is that something good? We untangle six Cantonese slang phrases to do with snakes. Photo: Shutterstock
Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Horses, who’ll find love easily

Horses will be lucky in love, women above all, in the lunar new year according to Chinese geomancy. Men in certain jobs will make good money.

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Lunar New Year

Chinese horoscopes: what to expect in the Year of the Wood Snake 2025

As the world enters the Year of the Wood Snake later this month, those born in the Years of the Rat, Monkey, Rooster, Horse and Dragon should experience good luck.

Animals

A Hong Kong snake catcher on the passion behind his public service

Sun Tak-hei, one of 11 licensed snake catchers in Hong Kong, talks about his enthusiasm for reptiles and how to deal with a wild snake.

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Hong Kong snake catcher Sun Tak-hei encountered a reticulated python in Bali in July 2023. Photo: courtesy of Sun Tak-hei
Lunar New Year

Why Year of the Snake 2025 won’t follow Lunar New Year’s Eve, technically

The Chinese calendar has no 30th day of the 12th lunar month this year, and it’s to do with the moon’s orbit. So when will people celebrate?

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A family eats at home, as many do on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Photo: Shutterstock
Lunar New Year

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Snakes, including their lucky colour

What lies in store for Snakes in the new lunar year according to Chinese geomancy, including why they should focus on work – and avoid water.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong, Macau can grow China’s appeal in age of US containment

For China to break out of a US-led containment, both cities have a pivotal role in building global connections and bridging divides.

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