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Director Zhang Yimou, far right, sought actresses for the 2011 film “The Flowers of War” with English and Nanjing dialect skills, leading to Ni Ni’s recommendation by her teacher. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo
Trending in China

Profile | China actress Ni Ni, star of acclaimed film ‘The Flowers of War’, dubbed ‘It girl’

After her debut, Ni became known as the new ‘Mou girl’, referring to actresses discovered by the legendary director Zhang Yimou.

Trending in China

Profile | China ‘Dairy Godfather’ rises from poverty to head US$410 million ice cream empire

Trending in China

China CEO influencer defends unruly mainland tourists despite feeling frustrated

Badminton World Federation (BWF)

‘Stop the stalking’: Japanese badminton star asks fans in China to keep distance

Chiharu Shida, dubbed ‘most beautiful badminton player’, says obsessive fans have left her feeling scared ‘every time we compete in China’.

Japan’s Chiharu Shida in action in England last month. Photo: AP
Japan’s Chiharu Shida in action in England last month. Photo: AP
Trending in China

China fitness influencer shut down for ‘provocative’ cosplaying Aquaman live-stream

Figure-hugging superhero costume overexposes ‘sensitive body part’, forces popular social media platform to act over ‘inappropriate clothing’.

Trending in China

Profile | Ex-Chinese lingerie model Ni Hongjie becomes celebrated actress and household name

Widely regarded entertainer uses experiences of unhappy childhood, troubled first marriage to shape on-screen persona.

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Trending in China

China love guru who teaches women how to marry rich faces US$1 million tax fine

Self-styled ‘McKinsey of relationships’ teaches that relationships, marriage are strategic tools for climbing social, financial ladder.

An online “love guru” in China who teaches women how to marry rich is facing a US$1 million tax evasion fine. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/ququdanvren.com
An online “love guru” in China who teaches women how to marry rich is facing a US$1 million tax evasion fine. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/ququdanvren.com
Trending in China

Hong Kong star Nicholas Tse sells sausages online, earns US$207 million in 4 years

Food brand of entertainment icon earns nationwide sales champion tag as actor takes active role in production, promotion of ‘high quality’ bangers.

Trending in China

Chinese influencer smashes temples, does bold stunts to challenge superstitions

Lifestyle challenging influencer with penchant for the paranormal stages scary stunts such as sleeping graveyards to debunk ancient rituals.

Trending in China

China ‘demon teacher’ with 2 million fans hailed as superstar for ‘tough-love’ style

Liu once warned students not to be distracted during online class, or she would ‘turn into a ghost, crawl out of your screen to consume you’.

Liu Xiaoyan is regarded as a highly influential English teacher on social media, particularly known for her tough-love teaching style to prepare students for China’s competitive postgraduate entrance exam. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/RedNote
China society

Profile | China film honours ‘Dumpling Queen’ from street vendor to food empire founder

At her lowest point, Zang Jianhe, who lacked formal education, endured hardships of working basic jobs for nearly 20 hours a day.

The film pays tribute to the “Dumpling Queen”, chronicling her inspiring journey from street vendor to the founder of a billion-dollar empire. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sohu
The film pays tribute to the “Dumpling Queen”, chronicling her inspiring journey from street vendor to the founder of a billion-dollar empire. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sohu
Trending in China

‘99.99%’ lookalike of Taiwan singer Jay Chou cannot sing, enjoys icon’s music

Introverted doppelganger shares videos of farming life online, cannot afford price of ticket to singer’s upcoming concerts.

Trending in China

Heart attack kills China ‘century baby’ born at midnight on January 1, 2000 at 25

Heartbroken mother says her ‘world has fallen apart’ as she calls for formal investigation into ‘serious medical accident’ without elaborating.

Trending in China

Profile | China big eater star Li Hangze admits to 35 million fans she is a man in disguise

Li says female persona is intended to fulfil roles of both mother and father for teenage son after divorce.

Langweixian, above, presents herself as a woman and communicates in a feminine manner but her baritone voice has led many to speculate about her true gender for years. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Trending in China

Tearful Wu Yanni’s 60m hurdles Worlds failure sparks furious social media debate

Despite setting a new national record time of 8.01 seconds, the 27-year-old missed out on qualification by 0.01 seconds.

China’s Wu Yanni of China celebrates after breaking the national record during the women’s 60 metres hurdles semi-finals at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Photo: Xinhua
China’s Wu Yanni of China celebrates after breaking the national record during the women’s 60 metres hurdles semi-finals at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Photo: Xinhua
Trending in China

Xiaomi CEO drops watermelons, reveals juicy truth about firm’s bulletproof veneer

Company website asserts that coating offers tear, scratch, and puncture resistance that exceeds traditional PVC coatings by over tenfold.

Trending in China

China actor expresses concern over AI scams impersonating him, seeks tougher laws

One victim plans to travel 2,000km to meet fake Jin while another almost leaves her husband.

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Trending in China

Real ‘Truman Show’: man in China live-streamed 24/7, becomes unwitting influencer

Neighbours set up surveillance cameras to record every move of unaware 62-year-old with ‘intellectual difficulties’.

A mentally disabled Chinese man has become an unwitting online influencer after villagers set up a series of cameras to record his daily life. Photo: SCMP composite/YouTube/Douyin
A mentally disabled Chinese man has become an unwitting online influencer after villagers set up a series of cameras to record his daily life. Photo: SCMP composite/YouTube/Douyin
Trending in China

Hometown of DeepSeek founder turns tourist hotspot, renovations paid by government

Obscure village gets major makeover as official cash flows to fund tree planting, road widening, raft of demolitions to delight of locals.

Trending in China

Chinese ‘3-knives girl’ martial arts prodigy, guardian for ‘country, family, myself’

Skilled teenage girl shows remarkable dexterity with ornamental knives, says she is determined to preserve China’s rich martial arts heritage.

Trending in China

China influencer, 24, dies day after telling fans she had not eaten for 2 days

Tragic cosplay blogger tells army of fans she is ‘on the edge of death’ before passing away, family leave online accounts open for mourning.

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A 24-year-old influencer in China has died after revealing during a live-stream that she had not eaten for two days and was unable to pay her rent. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Trending in China

Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu launches US$55 English course with interactive sessions

US-born Wu says while his roles have evolved from actor to director, English has always been a key tool for connecting with the world.

Daniel Wu, the US-born Hong Kong actor and filmmaker, has gained attention on Chinese social media for launching an English-language course to teach fans authentic spoken English. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin
Daniel Wu, the US-born Hong Kong actor and filmmaker, has gained attention on Chinese social media for launching an English-language course to teach fans authentic spoken English. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin
Trending in China

Profile | China influencer Luo Fuxing, known for animal hairstyles, shifts focus to theatre

Luo experienced lonely, love-deprived upbringing as left-behind child, with parents working far from home, providing minimal contact.

Trending in China

Profile | New move as ‘Asia’s most beautiful’ Taiwan actress Joey Wong opens health centre

Award-winning actress settles in Canada, says she is now focusing on health, finding inner peace by running therapy centre in Vancouver.

Trending in China

Profile | Pioneering China filmmaker ‘Weibo queen’ Yao Chen puts focus on feminist issues

Award-winning actress, producer amasses millions of followers on social media thanks to her humorous, down-to-earth storytelling ability.

Pioneering Chinese actress and producer, known widely as the “Weibo queen”, Yao Chen, is one of the nation’s first filmmakers to focus on feminist issues. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Chen Rui, known online as @trumpbyryan and by his English name Ryan, is a content creator from Chongqing, China known for imitating Donald Trump. Photo: @trumpbyryan/ Instagram

The influencer from China who speaks exactly like Donald Trump

Chen Rui, a Chinese marketer who went viral for his spot on Trump impressions, teaches English through his social media.

Reading Time:3 minutes
There was little festive cheer 75 years ago, as the Battle of Hong Kong raged to a bloody conclusion. Some of the people who lived through the invasion recall how they suddenly found themselves in a war zone

The Battle of Hong Kong: eyewitness accounts

Reading Time:11 minutes
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André Fu in his office in Hong Kong. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Bangkok’s landmark Dusit Thani hotel reimagined by André Fu

Reading Time:6 minutes
The good, bad and ugly sides to a holiday in Kathmandu, Nepal

The good, bad and ugly sides to being a tourist in Kathmandu

Reading Time:4 minutes
View from the Patan Museum looking onto Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Getty Images

Insiders’ guide to Kathmandu, 3 city states that became the Nepalese capital

Reading Time:5 minutes
Hong Kong artist Chow Chun-fai’s Interview the Interviewer II series of paintings will be on display at Art Basel Hong Kong’s Insights sector. Photo: SC Gallery

The best inspiration is found at home, this artist finds

Reading Time:5 minutes
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