‘Gone down a lot’: why Chinese travellers are shunning US and Europe

BEIJING: Chinese tourists are increasingly turning away from traditional destinations such as the United States and Europe in favour of hotspots in the Middle East, South-East Asia and Latin America, according to foreign exchange firm Travelex. The company has seen a marked shift in the currency exchanges requested by its Chinese customers since 2019, with US...

Second Hong Kong man rescued from South-East Asia scam farm, says ex-politician

HONG KONG: A second Hong Kong man has been rescued from Myanmar after being lured into forced illegal labour in South-East Asia, according to a former district councillor who has been helping victims. Andy Yu Tak-po revealed the development on Monday afternoon after accompanying a family member of a kidnapped victim to submit a petition letter...

China auntie goes viral with comedic imitations, iconic scenes from Korean dramas

BEIJING (SCMP): An elderly Chinese aunt has captured hearts online by parodying iconic scenes from classic Korean dramas with hilarious and exaggerated acting. The woman’s performances have sparked an outpouring of affection and pleas for her to continue bringing joy. In recent years, South Korean TV dramas have seen a massive surge in popularity in the West,...

Disgraced top China banker Liu Liange married son’s girlfriend, causing his chronic depression

BEIJING (SCMP): Disgraced Chinese banker, Liu Liange, who has been sentenced to death for corruption, has had his romantic life come under public scrutiny. This includes frequently changing partners and sabotaging his son’s relationship before marrying his girlfriend, leading to widespread criticism and reportedly contributing to the young man’s chronic depression. Born in 1961 in Yongji, Jilin...

Chinese man can keep US$40,000 cheating ex gave him to say sorry, court rules

A Shanghai court ruled that a man was not obliged to return the 300,000 yuan (US$40,000) his ex-girlfriend gave him in an attempt to salvage their relationship after he discovered her affair with his nephew. The man, surnamed Li, and the woman, identified as Xu, met in 2018 and soon began dating. Two years later, Li...

Disgraced top China banker Liu Liange married son’s girlfriend, causing his chronic depression

At the time, he was the youngest chairman among the “Big Four” state-owned banks, which propelled him into the public spotlight. However, there have been persistent suspicions that Liu’s rapid rise was facilitated by his first wife, purportedly the daughter of a high official, whom he later divorced to marry his young mistress after achieving his...

China dad jailed for killing baby daughter by throwing her from flat during fight with wife

BEIJING (SCMP): A man in China was sentenced to four years in prison after he accidentally threw his six-month-old daughter out of their flat window, resulting in her death and sending shock waves through the community. A court in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region of Western China recently sentenced the father, surnamed Zhao, for manslaughter, as...

China KOL mimics athlete in sexy video, igniting debate over objectification of sportswomen

BEIJING: A live-streamer in China mimicked national track and field athlete Wu Yanni and performed provocative dances for profit, sparking a heated online debate. Videos by Douyin influencer @xiaoyu, who has over 4,000 followers, went viral and topped the Weibo trending list on December 5. The controversial videos feature her wearing make-up and styling her hair to...

Man sentenced to death in China for pushing wife into sea, using insurance payout on prostitutes

BEIJING (SCMP): A man in China was sentenced to death after pushing his wife into the sea from a ferry and attempting to claim her life insurance compensation to pay off debts and finance the use of prostitutes. The case of the husband, 47, surnamed Li, was reported by China’s state broadcaster CCTV on November 21....

Travel fund shortage leads Chinese student to scam 63 hotels with dead roaches, used condoms

BEIJING (SCMP): A man in eastern China spent his university tuition on travel instead of enrolling and scammed multiple hotels by placing dead cockroaches and used condoms in rooms when his funds ran out. He employed this scheme to blackmail 63 hotels, seeking free accommodation and compensation, which ultimately led to his arrest and sparked public...