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Entertainment
After speaking about using binders on Instagram, they were shocked at the amount of backlash generated by the post.
Recently, you may have come across a cat-based currency known as dabloons on your TikTok FYP. The dabloons economy is currently experiencing an inflation, but it’s not too late to cash in.
Viewers got to see the production’s reenactment of the famous Princess Diana Panorama interview, but how true to reality was The Crown in presenting this decisive moment?
It’s been almost three years since we last heard a solo track by UK grime artist Stormzy. The grime MC dropped "Mel Made Me Do It" on Sept. 23, a mammoth seven-minute track that crows of success, accompanied by an 11-minute music video that has fans reeling.
British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who recently lost out on a chance to bag the 100-metre gold medal at the European Championships, has used the incident to highlight the often-ignored issue of women's health in sports.
Sarah Michelle Gellar has gone from hunting supernatural creatures as Buffy to being embroiled in werewolf drama.
If you have already consumed all of the Bridgerton episodes, along with the Julia Quinn books, then here's something to add to your wish list.
HBO has confirmed to Deadline that there will not be a Gentleman Jack Season 3, as the show has now been cancelled. The announcement comes shortly after the Season 2 finale aired.
Are you ready for things to get even stranger? While ‘Stranger Things’ is slated to end with Season 5, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have made no secret of the fact that they are not quite finished with this universe.
Culture & History
To promote his new book, Prince Harry has sat down for four interviews — and there are some striking similarities with his mother’s own groundbreaking Panorama interview, almost three decades ago.
Tributes from the fashion industry and its biggest names are pouring in following the announcement that pioneering British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood died aged 81 on Dec. 29.
From the women cutting their hair in solidarity to those taking to the streets and demanding change, here’s what you need to know about deaths, the morality police, and strict laws.
The announcement of the death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch had specified she had “died peacefully,” but notably did not include the Queen’s specific cause of death. Here’s what we know about her health over the years.
Hong Kong films have a distinctive identity that has captured hearts and imaginations worldwide and resonates even now after our return to Chinese sovereignty, continuing to occupy a prominent part of the global cinema stage. For the film buffs out there, here is a look at Hong Kong cinema through the ages.
A century-old Romanesque water reservoir system hidden in Sham Shui Po is being demolished, but it has recently come to light that there is a historical structure within the old reservoir, believed to have been built as early as 1930.
Hong Kong is a Chinese society with so many historically Western influences, and it’s easy to forget that our love for dairy products is one such cultural import. A look into the history of Hong Kong’s very own dairy farms and producers is “udderly” fascinating.
Hong Kong has regrettably seen many of its previous cultural institutions shunted aside to make way for newer, shinier, and more profitable builds. Here are six famous Hong Kong landmarks that have had their heyday, and now only live on in Hongkongers’ hearts and memories.
Watching a Wong Kar-wai film is like immersing yourself into a gritty, neon-drenched world, full of saturated colours and unrequited love. Everything is aesthetically pleasing, and everything is also melancholy.
It is The Garden Company that produces this ubiquitously Hong Kong loaf, so here’s a little interesting history about one of our city’s most well-known bakeries and confectionery makers.
The Chinese concept of hell is well-placed to sort out the saints from the sinners. Here is a little guide to the subterranean horrors that await sinners in the 18 Levels of Hell.
Hong Kong’s film industry was propelled to international acclaim when gangster films burst onto our silver screens with guns ablaze. These works of unapologetically over-the-top bloodlust have made an indelible mark on Hong Kong, even to the point of spawning Hollywood blockbuster remakes!
Think you know Hong Kong English because you’re familiar with the concept of “losing face” and know when to tell someone to “add oil?” You may want to think again!
We’re taking you on a trip down memory lane with these six forgotten locations that once had some impact on Hong Kong and its people.
The history of colonial Hong Kong's "protected women" is a page in our books that seems to just get skimmed past instead of pored over. Their impact on the city's development has largely been forgotten, and yet they've played a valuable part in bringing East and West together to create Hong Kong's singular character.
The Hong Kong government has compiled a new list of 20 cultural items of value for preservation. Catharina Cheung finds out what’s on it.
Lifestyle & Leisure
Enter the shower orange. As the name implies, this life hack involves bringing an orange into the shower with you.
YouTube’s new feature will support multi-language audio tracks, allowing creators to dub their videos in multiple languages.
With warnings about the platform’s demise continuing to swirl, what does the future of journalism look like on Twitter? Should we really be looking to place ourselves elsewhere?
Hong Kong has a long and rich history of private membership clubs, with members well known as key movers and shakers in the fabric of society. With so many different clubs catering to all interests, here are just some ways to enjoy the good life in one of the best cities in the world.
Many have been left understandably shaken by the death of Queen Elizabeth II—mourning the loss of a monarch and also coming to terms with the major transition now at play, following Her Majesty's 70-year reign.
Mainstream social media is a chaotic place. Here are some alternative social media platforms where the crowd is simultaneously more select and inclusive, and the content is cooler.
Many concur that TVB productions peaked around the 1990s and early 2000s, so here are the top 10 classic Hong Kong drama series that almost every local knows and loves, and are well worth watching for a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
There are plenty of plants and flowers that have been conferred auspicious meanings in Chinese tradition, so here are 10 of the most popular Lunar New Year plants and flowers for bringing luck into your home!
How many times have you scribbled down “read more books” as a new year’s resolution? We’ve done the heavy lifting for you, so hit up your nearest bookstore, grab a few noteworthy tomes, and strut into 2020 a (soon-to-be) well-read individual!
Friendly chinwags, laugh-out-loud bites, and touching human interest stories have accompanied us on many a long commute. Make sure your earbuds are fitting comfortably and listen away to our favourite podcasts!
If you've been enticed by Parasite into exploring films that lie outside English- and Chinese-speaking offerings, then get the popcorn ready; we’ve gathered 10 fantastic foreign-language titles that everybody should see.
We have here a list of skincare products that will hydrate your skin and keep you glowing through the winter. You can thank us when you’re consistently the most dewey-looking one in all your party photos.
Travel & Art
We venture slightly off the beaten path to give you a selection of gorgeous scenic spots in Hong Kong, some well-known and some which you may not yet have visited.
Whether you may have heard of them or not, there are certain small areas of the city that have evolved into little villages of their own, taking on a character that’s different to the larger district they belong to. Here are Hong Kong’s most interesting precincts to check out!
For such a small city, there are a surprising number of museums dotted around Hong Kong! Spanning a wide range of topics from modern and classical art, medical sciences, and transportation, to tea and even ancient tombs, here are some of Hong Kong’s best museums to visit.
If you are looking for an authentic experience that gives your travels or staycations more depth instead of just lavishness, then perhaps you’d be interested in ditching the regular pool and buffet combo for some of Hong Kong’s excellent heritage hotels and hostels.
In lieu of physically visiting museums, here are some of the most interesting online art galleries and museum collections you should spend time getting lost in.
Reviewing Bangkok’s Chao Phraya Estate, an expansive development with two world-class hotels and a Four Seasons private residence tower that epitomises luxury waterfront living.
The travel bug bites us hard too, so we’ve found some places in Hong Kong that don’t look or seem like Hong Kong for you to visit instead!
Hong Kong may be small, but it still boasts approximately 600 temples, shrines, and monasteries, dotted all around the territories. Here are seven that are beautifully interesting and deserve more attention.
From animal remains to Aztec pyramids, here are some of the most unusual things to look out for on Hong Kong hikes.
Spruce up your getaway with these stunning villas that all boast a special spark; just imagine the gorgeous photos!
Inspired by the letterpress and the moon, serviced apartment The Luna is here to surpass expectations.
Catharina Cheung weighs in on the latest noteworthy exhibitions to broaden the mind
Interviews
“It’s still an industry built on class barriers, backwards hierarchy, and aspiration that seeks to keep most of us out.”
Catharina Cheung sits down with Tong Man-hak, a retired carpenter and erhu maker and enthusiast, for a chat on crafting classical Chinese music instruments by hand, and being the last of Hong Kong’s such artisans.
Interview with Master Tong Man-hak, the last craftsman to hand-make erhu instruments in Hong Kong.
Catharina Cheung catches director Ray Yeung after the release of his stunning queer movie to find out more about courageous choices, giving Hong Kong’s fringe communities a voice, and why older homosexuals would rather stay in the closet.
Catharina Cheung spends a breezy afternoon with Hong Kong’s very own Olympian swimmer, Camille Cheng, learning about the selection process for the Olympic Games, representing the city internationally as a third-culture kid, and her daily training schedule.
Catharina Cheung holes up with Brendan Fitzpatrick in his relaxing Aberdeen studio, literally watching paint dry and chatting about artistic inspirations, Asian preconceptions, and the importance of having a visual focus in art.
Catharina Cheung hops aboard with professional sailor and entrepreneur Sytske Kimman to talk about sailing, living on a houseboat, and 40 years in Hong Kong.
F&B
One of our most interesting types of food is Hong Kong-style Western cuisine—so ubiquitous in our cha chaan teng restaurants that sometimes it’s easy to forget that they are classed into a special category of their own! Here are some dishes with Western origins that savvy Hongkongers have modified and made their own
There are always going to be times when you need to treat yo’self, and for that noble reason, we’ve gathered Hong Kong’s top splurge-worthy brunches for your pleasure. Here’s to the weekend!
Even outside of the nightlife and clubbing districts, our city has plenty of lesser-known bars dotted around—here are some of our favourite neighbourhood watering holes.
Most people will immediately think of the rapidly gentrifying area of Sham Shui Po—Hong Kong’s Brooklyn, if you may—when it comes to independent coffee shops, but there are great pickings out in the New Territories too.
We’re big fans of Singaporean and Malaysian foods, so it stands to reason that laksa is always top on our list of favourite eats. Here are a few restaurants in Hong Kong which do a rich, multi-layered laksa that is hearty and satisfying.
So much of good Chinese cooking depends on usage of the right condiments. In this instalment of Sauced Up, we explore the origins and local brands of one of Hong Kong’s favourites: the XO sauce.
Only honey produced in Hong Kong can help provide defence against local air-borne allergies! Here are the best of Hong Kong honey from local bee farms or grocers.
Catharina Cheung investigates the annual fervour during hairy crabs season.
Outdoors & Nature
Here are five hikes, each with gorgeous vistas of various areas of Hong Kong, so you get a different experience for each outing and can also come away with a camera roll full of promising photos.
For such a small territory, it’s pretty amazing to know that more than 5,000 species of animals have been recorded here in Hong Kong. See if you can spot these animals out and about!
No, they haven’t escaped from the nearby aviary! These are Hong Kong’s wild cockatoos, and here’s why you should learn more about them.
The neighbourhood of Sai Ying Pun is an eclectic mix of traditional and foreign foods and shops, housed in buildings that are mainly still the old-style tenement housing of old.
We don’t have to journey all the way to Japan or to Canada to enjoy cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, because our fantastic city actually also has certain spots with the right plants and flora to do the job.
(In)famous for being an endearing sight on hikes or causing consternation for wandering into the MTR, wild boars have increasingly been crossing the line into urban life in recent years.
Humour & Satire
The internet watched in gleeful disbelief as the bids soared — though many were perturbed by Mr Blobby’s eBay listing photos.
Because we don’t see common sense prevailing any time soon, we’ve compiled a list of items that might well go out of stock next. Get your hands on the latest victims of the coronavirus Bulk Hoarding Syndrome!
During Covid doomscrolling, we come across a lot of stuff that’s made us spit out our tea or roll our eyes so hard they were in danger of being stuck in the back of our heads forever.
Language originating from or specifically used on the internet is usually confusing or downright nonsensical to those who don’t already understand it, but we’re here to explain all.
We’re introducing 10 slang phrases related to the workplace, describing everything from resignation to sales targets.
If you’re anything like us and enjoy the r/creepypasta subreddit, then these scary Hong Kong stories will be right up your alley!
There are lots of clever people who’ve found interesting ways to keep themselves entertained amidst city-wide closures and social distancing rules.
Branded Campaigns
Brands have to proactively implement sophisticated digital strategies to drive sales nowadays. Discover a major aspect of e-commerce that can pique consumer interest, before they even know they want to purchase.
In these challenging times, it is harder than ever to argue for ad spend investments. Experts dissect changes in media behaviour, analysing the right metrics, and the death of the third-party cookie.
On TikTok, every brand — of every size — has the potential to go viral. Learn how small-to-medium businesses market themselves on the platform and drive real, tangible growth.
Experts and panellists at the first-ever Meta Festival break down how creators and brands can navigate web3, its contribution to diversity, and metaverse trends in the APAC region.
A series of guided tours for the emerging neighbourhood of West Kowloon, connecting traditional crafts, historic buildings, authentic dining, and shopping experiences, to the new bustling energy of an international art and culture district.
In light of changing data privacy practices, marketers must learn to balance data collection and marketing strategy with consumer trust.
Are you wondering where to go in this bustling city for a slice of peace and quiet (and to maintain some social distancing)?
Marketers who had shifted from traditionally advertising spaces into digital platform strategies are now tasked with finding new innovative ways to promote their brand messaging. Such a solution is now available in gaming.
You pick up a wedge of French brie; it’s smaller than your palm and costs well over $100. You blanch in horror and walk out of the shop, dejected and cheeseless. Sound familiar?
In recent years, West Kowloon has taken on a postmodernist sheen as Hong Kong's newest arts hub, but it's interesting to note that under all the glitz and glamour, this remains one of our city's oldest neighbourhoods.
We’ve consulted with the lovely folks at Book Depository for a list of the most highly anticipated books of 2020, containing everything from YA romance to dystopian thrillers.
Speaking to a head designer about sustainability, how Hong Kong homes can emulate a vibe that’s conducive for relaxing, and to find out what exactly makes a good home.
Alongside finding knick-knacks in quirky vintage emporiums, you can also feast your way through West Kowloon at several time-honoured, family-run establishments that have played a part in shaping Hong Kong's culinary landscape.
A handy list of 10 common Mandarin Chinese phrases that will be helpful in the workplace, so you can sound like a pro the next time you speak to a mainland Chinese client or colleague.
A break-down of three major British cities at the forefront of the growth trajectories and analysing how they are excellent investment destinations.