59 h. ago China family left let down after spending US$140,000 on lavish panda

The experience of a Chinese family who spent an extravagant 960,000 yuan (US$140,000) on a luxury “Panda Express” train tour has shocked many people online. The lavish purchase has sparked a lively discussion because of claims that the experience promised in promotional materials fell far short of the reality. On August 25, a Chinese netizen posted a video revealing that their family, from Jilin province in northeastern China, embarked on a 17-day “Panda Express Tour” in July. The 26-member...

Economics

59 h. ago China family feel let down after spending US$140,000 on lavish panda

The experience of a Chinese family who spent an extravagant 960,000 yuan (US$140,000) on a luxury “Panda Express” train tour has shocked many people online. The lavish purchase has sparked a lively discussion because of claims that the experience promised in promotional materials fell far short of the reality. On August 25, a Chinese netizen posted a video revealing that their family, from Jilin province in northeastern China, embarked on a 17-day “Panda Express Tour” in July. The 26-member...

Economics

4 d. ago Filipinos target ‘nepo babies’, Malaysia’s electric train: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. What Vietnam’s South China Sea island-building spree means for Asean Vietnam’s rapid expansion of artificial island construction in the disputed Spratly Islands has put it on track to surpass China’s land reclamation in the South China Sea, according to new satellite...

Events

8 d. ago Firms with designs on proposed Hong Kong tech hub will have to follow guidelines

Tech firms hoping to set foot in Hong Kong’s future innovation hub will have to honour proposed design guidelines such as retaining fish ponds when they seek official approval for their plans, the government has said. But some Town Planning Board members told a meeting on Friday that the unclear operating model for the San Tin Technopole would bring challenges to layout design and the management of ecological efforts set out in the suggested planning guidelines. Board member Jonathan Wong...

Science

9 d. ago India, China to resume direct flights, opening door for travel boom

India and China’s planned resumption of direct flights after five years is expected to revive tourism and business travel between the two regional powers and potentially boost neighbouring economies, raising hopes of a thaw in relations after years of economic and security friction. Flights between the two countries were halted during the pandemic in 2020 and, except for a few repatriation flights, never resumed even after New Delhi and Beijing lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions. Relations...

Transport

1 week ago Trump administration seizes control of Washington’s Union Station from Amtrak

US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that his department is taking management of Union Station, the main transport hub in Washington, away from Amtrak, in another example of how the federal government is exerting its power over the nation’s capital. Duffy made the announcement in a statement before he was to join Amtrak President Roger Harris at Union Station for the launch of the NextGen Acela, the rail service’s new high-speed train. The secretary said Union Station,...

Politics

1 week ago Malaysia’s new electric train service set to bring travel boom

Malaysia’s 1,000km north-south electric train service (ETS), which was belatedly relaunched on Saturday, halves cross-country travel time and could open remote rural towns to tourism in a country famously dependent on its cars. But to unlock its real potential, the travel industry says more of the line’s Chinese-made trains need to be deployed, while the route – which runs along west Malaysia from the Thai border down to Singapore – needs a major publicity campaign to capture the imagination of...

Politics

2 w. ago Rail treat: Malaysia’s king takes control on inaugural electric train journey

Beaming, Malaysia’s king welcomed passengers on a special train from the capital of Kuala Lumpur to the historical railway town of Kluang – and back – marking the launch of the long-delayed southern stretch of the electric train service (ETS). Saturday’s ride was a royal treat for the guests who sat back while the king, an avid train aficionado, took the controls, driving the six-car train for the entire six-and-a-half-hour return journey. “Hi everybody! Welcome, welcome, welcome,” Sultan...

Politics

2 w. ago Malaysia’s king takes the controls on inaugural electric train journey

Beaming, Malaysia’s king welcomed passengers on a special train from the capital of Kuala Lumpur to the historical railway town of Kluang – and back – marking the launch of the long-delayed southern stretch of the electric train service (ETS). Saturday’s ride was a royal treat for the guests who sat back while the king, an avid train aficionado, took the controls, driving the six-car train for the entire six-and-a-half-hour return journey. “Hi everybody! Welcome, welcome, welcome,” Sultan...

Politics

3 w. ago 30,000 stranded at Japan’s Osaka expo after train service chaos

About 30,000 visitors to Japan’s World Exposition in Osaka were left stranded, with some forced to spend the night inside the expo grounds, after the sole train service to the venue had to be halted due to a power outage on Wednesday. Services on the Chuo Line, the only direct route to Yumeshima, the artificial island that hosts the expo, were halted at 9.30pm – 30 minutes before closing time – because of an electrical failure, Kyodo news agency reported. While the Osaka Metro partially restored...

Events