77 m. ago Study shows China’s temples act as rare sanctuaries for ancient trees

At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain in the Chinese city of Xian, the ancient Guanyin Chan Temple is home to a ginkgo tree with a history spanning over 1,400 years. As autumn approaches each year, this ancient ginkgo tree bursts into a spectacular golden display. The tree is said to have been planted by Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang dynasty (618-907) during a visit to the temple. According to a new study, temples across China – both Buddhist and Taoist – have safeguarded tens of thousands of ancient...

Politics

2 h. ago 1 dead, 4 injured in Chongqing after driver runs into crowd: district police

One person is dead and four others injured after a driver allegedly drove into a crowd in Chongqing, a city in southwestern China, on Saturday after onlookers reportedly criticised him for repeatedly sounding the horn on his car. A police statement issued on Sunday by the Banan district branch of the Chongqing Public Security Bureau alleged the driver, surnamed Xiong, repeatedly sounded the horn after finding his path blocked by another vehicle in Banan, a district in southern Chongqing. The...

Events

2 h. ago China’s Wang Yi decries ‘unacceptable’ Israeli attack on Iran, urges diplomacy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Israel’s attack on Iran an “unacceptable” breach of international law and urged measures to de-escalate tensions in phone calls with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Saturday. He told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that China could play a “constructive role” in the peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue, saying diplomatic solutions remained viable and a peaceful resolution was still achievable, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign...

Politics

2 h. ago Public shock as Taiwan actress reveals face pinned with needles from skin therapy

Taiwanese actress and singer Joe Chen Chiao-en has caused shock by revealing photos of herself after she underwent an all-over acupuncture treatment. The glaring images have sparked controversy on social media in mainland China. Known as the Queen of Idol Dramas, Chen, 46, first rose to fame in 2013 for her portrayal of Dongfang Bubai in the series Swordsman. She solidified her popularity with hit dramas such as Fated to Love You and The Prince Who Turns into a Frog. Her performance in Fated to...

Events

2 h. ago How the next Philippine president could reshape its South China Sea policy

With Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr about halfway through his six-year term, questions are growing over whether his successor will uphold his firmer stance on the South China Sea or, as one senior official has warned, retreat to the symbolic “jet ski” posturing and softer policies seen under his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. Last month’s midterm elections delivered a split Senate, with Marcos-aligned candidates winning five of the 12 contested seats and Duterte allies clinching the...

Politics

4 h. ago Grand relaunch of Hong Kong club marred by police raid, money laundering arrest

The grand relaunch of a famous Hong Kong nightclub on Saturday night was marred by a police raid that saw at least one person arrested on suspicion of money laundering. Police and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department officers raided Big Boss Generation (BBG) in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 10pm that night, just hours after the club opened. Photos from the scene showed dozens of uniformed officers entering the club and inspecting customers and staff. The force also arrested a local man on...

Events

4 h. ago Grand relaunch of Hong Kong nightclub marred by police raid, arrest

The grand relaunch of a famous Hong Kong nightclub on Saturday night was marred by a police raid that saw at least one person arrested on suspicion of money laundering. Police and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department officers raided Big Boss Generation (BBG) in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 10pm that night, just hours after the club opened. Photos from the scene showed dozens of uniformed officers entering the club and inspecting customers and staff. The force also arrested a man on suspicion of...

Events

4 h. ago Corporate bond defaults disappear from China’s onshore market

Corporate bond defaults disappear from China’s onshore market  Financial Times

Events

4 h. ago Hong Kong wants an ecotourism boom, but can its parks handle more visitors?

Amy Zhang is dressed in full sportswear, with sunglasses and a lightweight hiking backpack. She is one of many visiting Hong Kong’s Dragon’s Back following the social media craze in mainland China over “in-depth travels” in the city. “The beautiful merging horizon and skyline make good photos for my friend circle on WeChat and RedNote,” the 30-year-old education worker from Hunan province said, referring to her networks on the Chinese social media platforms. “I only wish for better toilets...

Politics

4 h. ago Gen Z’s ‘emotional consumption’ fuels surge in consumer stocks like Pop Mart

Stock investors are capitalising on the spending power of China’s Generation Z consumers, who splurge on everything from gold jewellery to low-priced drinks, delivering multifold returns on so-called new consumer stocks. The ascent of Pop Mart International Group, Mixue Group and Laopu Gold is one of the few bright spots in China’s sluggish consumer industry, which has been plagued by a weak jobs market and the deflationary trend. The robust performance has come at the cost of traditional...

Politics

5 h. ago Why Chinese firms building foreign factories are no longer focused on US market

This year’s escalation of the US-China trade war has led many Chinese companies to rethink their overseas expansion strategies, with accessing the American market no longer their top priority when considering building factories in foreign countries, industry insiders said. There had been a “drastic downshift” in inquiries from Chinese companies seeking land to rent or purchase in Mexico, one of their hottest overseas investment destinations in the past, said Jack Lee, an industrial property...

Economics

5 h. ago Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T3 signal to stay in place for early afternoon

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. A No 3 typhoon warning will remain in force in Hong Kong throughout the early afternoon on Sunday, with local winds expected to ease slightly later in the day, the city’s forecaster has said. The Hong Kong Observatory said that Tropical Storm Wutip continued to weaken and move over inland...

Events

5 h. ago Wutip: Hong Kong’s T3 could be replaced by strong monsoon signal in afternoon

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. A No 3 typhoon warning in Hong Kong could be lowered and replaced by a strong monsoon signal on Sunday afternoon, as Tropical Storm Wutip continues to weaken and move away from the city, the local forecaster has said. The Hong Kong Observatory said that the storm was expected to further weaken...

Politics

5 h. ago Wutip: Hong Kong cancels all typhoon signals on Sunday afternoon

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled all typhoon signals on Sunday afternoon, as Tropical Depression Wutip gradually weakened and continued to move away from the city. The forecaster cancelled the No 3 signal at 3.40pm on Sunday, after the No 1 signal first went up on Wednesday. “In the past...

Politics

6 h. ago Trump tariffs challenge Asean’s unity and economic stability

When US President Donald Trump’s tariff chaos eventually calms, its long-lasting consequences will significantly affect the area just south of China and east of India – Southeast Asia – and its organisational bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Trump’s focus on protectionism is likely to replace uniform tariffs with varying import taxes for different countries. This shift could create divisive and harmful effects for Southeast Asia and Asean, which are interchangeable but...

Economics

7 h. ago Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

Hong Kong travel agencies have launched cheaper outbound group tours this summer, driven by increased flight capacity amid a shift in tourists’ preference away from Japan due to increased earthquake concerns. Several tour operators have reported that prices for their summer group tours are either lower or have remained stable, adding that popular destinations include South Korea, Vietnam and cities in western mainland China. “Compared to last year, we see more than a 10 per cent drop in prices...

Politics

7 h. ago China zoo visitors slammed for ‘lucky’ tiger hair pulling, warned over provocation

A group of tourists who pulled out the hair of a tiger at a zoo in China, thinking it would ward off evil spirits, have sparked outrage online. On June 8, a viral video showed several visitors at a zoo in Liaoning province, northeastern China, pulling hair from the big cat’s belly and tail through a metal fence. The incident took place in a special zone where tigers often rest on top of a steel viewing tunnel. In the video, one of the tourists, a woman, is heard saying: “Let’s pull more! Tiger...

Events

8 h. ago China’s Biotech Moment Ignites a 60% Stock Rally That Beats AI

China’s Biotech Moment Ignites a 60% Stock Rally That Beats AI  Bloomberg.com

Politics

9 h. ago How the U.S. is Handing Over Venezuela's Oil Sector to China

How the U.S. is Handing Over Venezuela's Oil Sector to China  Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com

Politics

12 h. ago Viral: What is the 'Beijing Bikini' phenomenon in China and why is it trending on social media

Viral: What is the 'Beijing Bikini' phenomenon in China and why is it trending on social media  Times of India

Politics