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Culture

The rock man’s scroll and other treasures at new museum

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is set to open on July 2 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s reunification with China. This publication is running features on some of the items you can see there. H.C. Lu highlights some treasures. ALMOST A THOUSAND years ago there lived a calligrapher, poet and painter named…

June 30, 20220Comments ByH.C. Lu

Culture

In eastern vs western values, a pop culture gap looms

To tap into popular music has been to tap into the values of the west, where many songs are dark or even adults-only. You don't see that in Asia. The world's creative energy center is moving to Asia, where music fans are singing a very different tune, reports Anna Tang. AMONG ENGLISH SPEAKERS around…

June 30, 20220Comments ByAnna Tang

Culture

‘Bring me a westerner’: curious story behind Palace Museum art

IN THE EARLY 1700s, the ruling emperor of China had a curious request: “Bring me a westerner!” Although Chinese painting had been through hundreds of years of evolution, the Kangxi Emperor was intrigued by western art, which had a notably different style. The message was sent out by members of the Jesuit community in China…

June 29, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

Remembering the Beatles visit to Hong Kong

PAUL MCCARTNEY, by far the most acclaimed of all pop musicians, recently turned 80. Eight facts of local interest: 1) Paul, John and George (Ringo was ill) visited Hong Kong on June 8, 1964. 2) In their suite at the President hotel, Kowloon, they found a smiling lady, said to be a mistress of the…

June 27, 20220Comments ByNury Vittachi

Culture

Students wear classic Chinese costume for graduation

SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN valued in China for thousands of years – so why don’t scholars dress in local style? On graduation day at Jiangsu Normal University, thousands of students wore classical Chinese costumes instead of standard western suits, reports Olala, a popular Chinese-Vietnamese voice on Twitter. This has become a tradition at that university in…

June 18, 20220Comments ByNury Vittachi

Culture

The strange true story of the hostage prince who fell in love

PRINCE YIREN OF QIN had a horrible job. He was a hostage. He had been assigned to that role by his own parents. That may sound strange, but that was often the case in China during the Warring States period, more than 2,200 years ago. The young man was a member of the royal family…

June 14, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

The betrayal of China’s super-soldier: General Yue Fei

Every military man is trained to charge into battle brandishing weapons. But one real life soldier became famous for his willingness to put his weapons down when his family needed him. At a young age, Yue Fei won the admiration of his country for his incredible feats in battle against a terrifying enemy - but…

June 9, 20220Comments ByMeno Monteir

Culture

Film captures China’s 1979 entry to capitalism

A SURPRISE HIT movie in China tells the true story of the first man who decided to try making a TV advertisement in that country, more than 40 years ago. It may sound like a trivial thing, but in another way it was huge – his success or failure would signify the transition of China…

June 8, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

In love with a ghost: classic Chinese painting to appear at new Hong Kong museum

EIGHTEEN CENTURIES AGO, two princes fell in love with the same woman, Zhen Mi. But only one could have her. Circumstances led Zhen Mi to marry the older one, although she preferred the younger, who had been sent into temporary exile during the chaotic Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. When the exiled brother finally…

June 6, 20220Comments BySeth Mallick

Culture

How poverty alleviation became a hit TV show

Attempts are being made to tell what is arguably the most important story of the modern era: how a huge proportion of humanity has recently been raised from starvation level poverty to health and dignity. And, finally, someone has told the story really well – and in a suitably modern way, as an exciting, episodic…

May 17, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

The rock man’s scroll and other treasures at new museum

In eastern vs western values, a pop culture gap looms

‘Bring me a westerner’: curious story behind Palace Museum art

Remembering the Beatles visit to Hong Kong

Students wear classic Chinese costume for graduation

The strange true story of the hostage prince who fell in love

The betrayal of China’s super-soldier: General Yue Fei

Film captures China’s 1979 entry to capitalism

In love with a ghost: classic Chinese painting to appear at new Hong Kong museum

How poverty alleviation became a hit TV show

Starmer meets Xi today, hopes to rebuild UK’s relationship

Treasures from 800-year-old sunken vessel exhibited in Hong Kong

At the Great Wall, I learned how the Chinese dealt with their enemies