Life Style

The “Ita bag” hashtag went viral on Weibo – China’s answer to X – in summer 2024 when Quan Hongchan, who won two golds in diving at the 2024 Paris Olympics, showed off gifts given to her by fans, from badges to cute toys, inside her transparent PVC bag.An ita bag, which means “painful bag” in Japanese, humorously denotes the great pain – and expense and effort – the wearer has put into lavishly decorating their bag. The bag is usually made of canvas or nylon with a clear see-through front.The trend stems from Japan’s otaku subculture, which is defined by obsessive fans of interests such as video games, anime and manga. So invested were otaku in their interests that they would go through great lengths to seek out merchandise from their favourite titles or franchises and carry them inside a ...

2.5/5 starsLead cast: So Ji-sub, Heo Joon-ho, Gong Myung, Ahn Kil-kangMercy for None, Netflix Korea’s latest gritty genre original out of South Korea, is a show about a man who destroys himself to seek justice for his dead brother. It is also about fathers blinded by their love for their sons. But most of all it’s a show about men beating the living hell out of each other.The man who does most of that beating is the hulking Nam Gi-hun, played by broad-shouldered bruiser So Ji-sub (Doctor Lawyer).Gi-hun used to be a top lieutenant in the Bongsan Gang, led by Gu Bong-san (Ahn Kil-kang, A Shop for Killers), which is closely affiliated with the Joowon Gang, led by Lee Joo-woon (Heo Joon-ho, Buried Hearts).

Turmeric is, to my palate, indelibly associated with Indian cuisine, which is why, when I taste it in non-Indian dishes, it comes as a bit of a surprise.I remember tasting it once at a cheap Spanish restaurant in Hong Kong, where the cooks substituted it for the much more expensive saffron – only the colours are similar; the flavours are a world apart.I also tasted it at Cha Ca La Vong, in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the spice was a key part of the restaurant’s signature dish of fish with rice noodles, vegetables, peanuts, fish sauce, chillies and lots of fresh herbs, including dill.Turmeric is mostly sold as a dried, ground spice, but it starts off as a rhizome that you can buy fresh at shops specialising in Indian and Southeast Asian ingredients.Turmeric looks like ginger on the outside, but i...

The weekend is upon us and if you haven’t had time to check out what’s going on, don’t stress – we have you covered.Hong Kong Ballet’s new production of Giselle at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is a must-see, while The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental is the place to be if cocktails are your thing.You can have a ball at a workshop on Lantau where you will learn how to make a Thai herbal compress or, if you’re in need of retail therapy, Lane Crawford’s Anya Life pop-up featuring playful products by British designer Anya Hindmarch should do the trick.Read on to find out more.1. Best Bars Takeover at The AubreyOn Sunday, head to The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong for the ultimate celebration of cocktails.For one night only, bar manager Stefano Bussi has curated a line-up of Hong Kon...

From electrifying performances by international pop stars to a Mongolian singing sensation, there is plenty of world-class entertainment on offer this July in the Greater Bay Area.Below is our pick of upcoming performances in Macau and cities just across the border with mainland China, all easily accessible from Hong Kong.1. Charlie Puth – Something New II tourAmerican pop sensation Charlie Puth will bring his “Something New II” tour to Shenzhen in July. Puth is known for his smooth vocals and polished pop production, and for hits like “Attention”, “We Don’t Talk Anymore” and “Left and Right.”If you missed his 2023 appearance in Hong Kong, this is a chance to hear him sing his chart-topping tracks in a dynamic live setting.Date: July 6, 2025Venue: Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre Stadium...

Is this Hong Kong’s ultimate multi-hyphenate? Meet Lindsay JangRestaurant owner, yoga teacher, wellness guru and, of course, influencer – this restless entrepreneur says that all her success is ultimately about understanding what people really want 31 Jan, 2024

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It’s part of my story: David Tang’s daughter on Shanghai TangVictoria Tang-Owen, creative director of the Hong Kong-based fashion and accessories brand, talks about reconnecting with her roots, designing practical fashion, and her plans to expand its non-fashion lines and reach new markets. 31 Oct, 2019

This is the 52nd instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades.For an acclaimed movie star whose accolades include best actress at the Venice Film Festival, Deanie Ip Tak-han has surprisingly little regard for fame and fortune.Known for standing up for her views even if it affects her career, the actress and singer is one of the most outspoken entertainers in Hong Kong.She spoke out against the June 4, 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and joined protesters in Hong Kong in 2019 who opposed a law change to allow extraditions to mainland China. As a result, the 77-year-old’s music has been banned on the mainland.Ann Hui, director of A Simple Life, poses with Deanie Ip as Ip holds the best actress trophy ...

This article contains mild spoilers.3/5 starsLead cast: Kim Da-mi, Son Suk-kuReportedly Disney+’s most-watched K-drama of 2025 so far, Nine Puzzles connects its final pieces in a mostly satisfying conclusion that reveals the identity of its elusive serial killer while teeing up the possibility of more adventures to come.A second season is almost guaranteed after the show’s premiere attracted more viewers to the streaming platform than either of its other Korean releases this year, Unmasked and Hyper Knife.The central partnership between eccentric criminal profiler Yoon E-na (Kim Da-mi) and introverted detective Kim Han-saem (Son Suk-ku) has plenty of room to run and leaves many questions still unanswered.