Culture & Leisure
Hindu devotees celebrate Thaipusam in Singapore
- 2025-02-16
- People
- The Young Reporter
- By: LIU Yutong、BO ChuxuanEdited by: WANG Ludan
- 2025-02-16
Around 16,000 Hindu devotees carried their Paal Kudam (pots of milk as offerings) or Kavadis (ornate structures that symbolise burden) in Singapore to mark the annual rite of Thaipusam, the sacred Hindu Thanksgiving Festival on Feb. 11. From 11:30 pm on Feb. 10, batches of devotees set off from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and started a 3.2-kilometer barefoot walk to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, together with friends and relatives chanting hymns and prayers to support them along the way. “Thaipusam is celebrated on the first full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Murugan, who is the deity of courage, power, and virtue," said Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, in his post on Facebook. Karthi Keyan, 24, a chef in an Indian restaurant, pierced his tongue, chest, and back with several rods as part of his Kavadi to express thanks to God. “I carry Kavadi to redeem a vow to god," he said. “I asked God to let me work in Singapore, and he gave it to me last year.” The Kavadi means “burden” in Hindu, elaborate metal structures adorned with spikes or hooks used to pierce the bodies symbolise "sacrifice at every step" and are borne as a vow to Murugan or as an act of gratitude. “When the Kavadi stings, there is pain, and after that, the pain is not known by God’s grace,” Keyan said. “It is very severe, and we have to bear the pain, leaving the burden on God,” he added. To prepare for the Thaipusam, devotees must be spiritually prepared and lead a life of abstinence, including a strict vegetarian diet for at least one month, according to the National Library Board of Singapore. Rajkirren, 31, had vegan meals cooked by his wife for the 21 …
Young cosplayers in Hong Kong turn passion into profit as 'cosplay commissions' provide emotional fulfillment for fans
- 2025-02-12
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: WANG LudanEdited by: YANG Haicen
- 2025-02-12
Leslie Cheng, an 18-year-old cosplay enthusiast, transformed into a male anime character from the popular Japanese TV series. She first put in red contact lenses, concealed her long hair under a wig, and slipped height-enhancing insoles into her shoes to make herself 1.77 meters. She was about to go to Mongkok for a date with a woman she had met online less than a month ago. Tonight Cheng will make HK$200. “This is my new side hustle, which we call cosplay commission,” said Cheng.“Through cosplay, we bring characters from anime into reality and go on dates with the character’s female fans.” Cheng is one thousands running cosplayer commission businesses through social media, especially Xiaohongshu and China’s TikTok, which have made their way to Hong Kong. Many young people here say this new job not only brings in extra cash but also a sense of fulfillment for their female clients and themselves. The cosplaying apparel segment dominated the Asia-Pacific role-playing and otaku apparel industry in 2022, valued at US$ 1.5 million, and the segment will likely getting 7.2%, according to market research company Astute Analytica. “I'm happy that more and more people like the service of cos commission,” Cheng said after first posting photos with her clients and receiving many positive comments on Xiaohongshu. A post titled “Daily Life of Maid Rin Matsuoka” on Xiaohongshu has received over 20,000 likes. Some of Rin Matsuoka’s fans asked in the comment section if they could get the poster’s autograph and have an opportunity to date. Rin Matsuoka is a male character from the Japanese sports anime Free!, recognized for his appealing appearance, intelligence, and loyalty to friends, which attracted groups of female fans, according to the Free! Wiki, a character's science fiction website. “I seek a painter to create an anime-style drawing of …
Animal-shaped lanterns light up end of Chinese New Year celebrations
- 2025-02-11
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LAU Ka YanEdited by: LI Sin Tung
- 2025-02-11
A dazzling array of lights and colour lit up the Hong Kong Cultural Centre piazza and foyer on Friday night as the city celebrated the Lantern Festival. This year’s theme was “Chinese Lanterns: An Enduring Heritage,” co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO). It featured animal-shaped lanterns, including pandas, peacocks, and koi fish, that symbolise prosperity, strength, and good fortune. At 7 pm, a two-person youth group from the Boys’ and Girls’ Club Association of Hong Kong Mei Foo Children and Youth Integrated Services Centre performed classic songs including Jace Chan's “Born to Be Different”, “People Life, Ocean Wild” from Mayday at the installation for around half an hour. “I feel that this year’s Lantern Festival is a combination of traditional and modern cultures,” said Chloe Yang, 29, a primary school teacher from mainland China.“These lanterns present a modern twist on traditional paper-craft skills, and the animal theme is also very appealing to me,” she added “As a tourist, I am glad to see Hong Kong placing so much emphasis on Chinese culture and bringing it to different people with fun and lively animal symbols,” Yang said. Local paper-crafting Master, Mo Cheuk-kei, was invited by ICHO to make one of the lanterns with the theme of “Glittering Fish – Lanterns with Abundant Blessings,” according to the programme details from LCSD. The lanterns designed were based on traditional New Year paintings in which two little lions play with fish on a pond while holding fortune sticks to pray for the New Year. “I come here to watch the wonderful lanterns every Lantern Festival, and this year's vivid animal lanterns that symbolize China were a big surprise,” said Lau Sui San, a 64-year-old retiree. “I am happy that Hong Kong has so many …
11 trail runners finish 2025 Hong Kong Four Trails with new rules
- 2025-02-03
- Photo Essay
- The Young Reporter
- By: LEUNG Chi NgaiEdited by: Chun Lim LEUNG
- 2025-02-03
15 trail runners from Asia gathered from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31 to participate in the annual Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), along the MacLehose Trail, Wilson Trail, Hong Kong Trail and Lantau Trail. Runners who finish the 298 kilometers trail within 60 hours and 72 hours are classified as "finishers" and "survivors" respectively, according to the official site. The challenge kicked off at Tuen Mun on Jan. 29 at 9:44 pm. This year, there were 11 survivors, and for the first time since 2016, there were no finishers. Andre Blumberg, the founder of the HK4TUC was not surprised with the result. "This challenge was very difficult.You can't really take anything for granted," he said. Nugo Yamanath Limbu, 46, a Nepalese runner living in Hong Kong, was a finisher twice in 2020 and 2023. This year, he was the first to finish at 10:32 am on Feb. 1. It took him 60:49 hours. Nugo was happy though he wished he could have done better. “I spent 19 hours in Lantau Trail because of bad weather,” he said, “everybody made me enjoy it. It was nothing like that three years ago.” “It is impossible to check the phone when there is no watch allowed in long distance running,” said Nugo. Runners were prohibited from wearing any smartwatches this year in order to raise the difficulty of the challenge. "I don't think that's such a big deal," said Andre, "it may be a bit of a reminder that we've all become a bit too reliant on technology,". Takashi Wakiya, a Japanese runner who was in Hong Kong for the first time, finished the challenge within 67:44 hours. "The steps in Hong Kong were more steady and the inclination was much higher, compared to similar trails in Japan.” He said. “The …
Low rent at lunar new year fair helps small businesses
- 2025-01-25
- Culture & Leisure
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHENG Tsz Sen Sean、QIN ZiyangEdited by: MAO Anqi
- 2025-01-25
Stall owners at Hong Kong’s largest fair in Victoria Park are paying lower rent than last year. Successful bids for wet stalls ranged from HK$6,530 to HK$75,000, with the aggregate bidding price declining nearly 30% compared to last year, while rent for fast food stalls was reduced by around 20%, according to the government data. Cheung Hon-fung, 22, a university student, partnered with two friends to sell drinking board games and wooden decorations which they designed. “The rent was fortunately cheaper than last year which was good news to us. But I don’t think there will be a great growth in sales, due to the bad weather and people going to mainland China to spend their holidays,” he said. Adrian Choy, 22, is another business owner at Victoria Park. “I ran a store seven years ago selling New Year’s favourites, but I didn't keep it going because of the high rent. This year's rent in the market is HK$8,000 cheaper than what it was then,” he said. To usher in the Year of Snake, many dry stalls sell snake themed items such as cushions and accessories, attracting locals and foreign visitors to stop in the tracks. “It was a collective effort to come up with different products. Some came up with neck cushions and some promoted Fai Chun with snake puns,” Choy said. Visitors at the fair include locals and people from overseas. Sherry Stephany, 58, a former Hong Kong resident, came back from New Jersey in the US during the holiday to visit family members. “We find the fair very festive and hope to buy some souvenirs and clothings with snake patterns,” she said. The Victoria Park fair opens on Jan.23 and lasts for six days with free admission. On Jan.29, it will remain open to the public until …
Knowledge meets cocktails: How academic bars in Shenzhen blend intellectual pursuits with social drinking
- 2024-12-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LIU YutongEdited by: Robin Ewing
- 2024-12-23
At a cozy Shenzhen bar, soft jazz music plays as colorful cocktails glimmer on a Sunday night. The audience was focused on a speaker discussing the dichotomy between materialism and idealism with a few slides projected behind him on a screen. Neighbor House, Shenzhen's first “academic bar," hosted its first event on Sept. 27, exploring the question “Is life a wilderness or a track?”. “The bar was packed that night,” said Yu Yang, 32, a bar partner of Neighbor House. “I wanted to open a bar with spiritual pursuits, like in the movie Midnight in Paris, to make social drinking more interesting and intellectual.” Academic bars blending intellectual discussions with socializing have become popular in China’s first-tier cities this year, mostly in Beijing and Shanghai, before recently finding their groove in Shenzhen. People recruited from social media gather at venues like Neighbor House for lectures and debates on various topics, all while enjoying drinks. On Xiaohongshu, a popular lifestyle social media platform in China, topics related to "academic bars" have gained more than four million views, with more than 6,000 related posts. “At least 30 people attended each event, which is beyond our expectations,” Yu said. “We had to turn up the speakers so that people gathered outside could also hear.” “I want to get away from work and learn more things other than making money,” Xu Yihua, a 30-year-old participant, said. “I expect to have discussions with others and make more like-minded friends through this platform.” Xu Yihua, a human resource manager, participated in the academic salon held at the Neighbor House for the second time. She said she cherishes it because there are few opportunities to participate in such activities after graduating from university. Academic bars originate from “Science in a Bar” in the UK. The SciBars are …
Feed Your Brain: What You Eat Affects Your Mind
- 2024-12-14
- Health & Environment
- The Young Reporter
- By: LAI Uen Ling、KURNIAWAN Trista VaniaEdited by: Ji Youn Lee
- 2024-12-14
A healthy diet is essential to a healthy mind. A 2022 study found that the more ultra-processed food you eat, the more likely you are to experience mild depression or feelings of anxiety. We spoke to nutritional experts to understand how simple changes, like eating breakfast regularly and cutting down on processed foods, can boost our mental well-being.

"Suede" Ignites Clockenflap Stage After Eight Years
- 2024-12-14
- Culture & Leisure
- By: Tsz Chiu MaEdited by: Ben Rong Li、Xiya RUI
- 2024-12-14
One of Hong Kong’s favourite Britpop bands, Suede is back with a vengeance at this year’s Clockenflap. Brett Anderson, the main vocalist of Suede, showcased his famous microphone swinging during the show. Their performance even broke through the generations as numbers of young audiences were also attracted to have a glimpse of them. In 1999, thousands of fans packed into the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to watch their show, resulting in several injuries. Suede’s performance on the second night this year included songs such as “Beautiful Ones”, “Animal Nitrate” and “Trash”. They joined French electronica duo Air, British rapper Central Cee, Japanese hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts and others at the popular music festival from November 29 to December 1 in Central Harbourfront. Benson Chiu, a longtime Suede fan was excited to see the band play in Hong Kong again. “It was a precious moment when they performed ‘Saturday Night’ on a Saturday night,” he said. “I hope they will come to Hong Kong again in the future.” Another highlight of the festival was the community singalong of “Seven Nation Army” during American guitarist Jack White’s performance. As the greatest hit by The White Stripes, created by Jack White, “Seven Nation Army” has since become a famous stadium chant. The crowd in Clockenflap continued chanting the song after the show ended. Apart from big names and headliners, Clockenflap also showcased many hidden gems. Gloria Chan, who was at the festival for the third time, said she was surprised to discover the Japanese group Turtle Island. “Their performance was so amazing that they seamlessly blended lots of instruments together without any dissonance,” said Chan. Clockenflap sold out twice in 2023, but sales weren’t as good this year. Many participants felt that this year's festival was much less crowded than in …
Esports help build local Gen Z community
- 2024-11-29
- Society
- By: ALISHIBA MATLOOB、Wing Chi HOEdited by: Elif Lale AYHAN
- 2024-11-29
“In esports, working together is very important for success,” said Gen Z player Pong Ka-hei, 25, known as SiufatBB to his peers and the founder of the Hong Kong Griffin ESports Organization. Pong is also a professional player for the popular game Valorant and the champion of VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: Hong Kong & Taiwan Stage 2 Challengers. “Every team member, including me, is from a different place and family. Everyone has a unique background, but the challenge is to do our best as a team,” Pong said. Through their teamwork and shared passion, he believes Gen Z is actively building a supportive community in esports. Gen Z gamers can be spotted in Hong Kong. South Korean Esports powerhouse, fifth-time champion of League of Legends World Championship, T1, led by captain Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker), came to Hong Kong to host the HSBC One x T1 “League of One” party on Sept 29 at the Asiaworld Summit. Hundreds of fans got to watch them play against each other and also got to meet the players' family members. Being a fan of T1, Matthew Fai, said he made many lifelong friends through gaming, such as local competitions and online games. “One of my favourite games is League of Legends,” Fai said. The gaming community in Hong Kong has been growing since the early 2010s, particularly after significant events like local player Lau Wai Kin, known as Toyz, winning League of Legends: Season 2 World Championship in 2012. In 2018, the Hong Kong government invested HK$100 million to promote esports, showing strong support for gaming in the region. According to the market research website Market.us, the global esports market was valued at around US$1.8 billion (HK$13 billion) in 2022 but grew to around US$2.4 billion(HK$18 billion) the following year. Esports charts reported “League …
Wine and spirits merchants wish for more attention in Hong Kong
- 2024-11-15
- Culture & Leisure
- By: Ka Man Wong、MAO AnqiEdited by: Xiya RUI、Ka Man Wong
- 2024-11-15
The 16th year’s fair invites some new-coming wine and spirits merchants who are proud of their unique flavours and are confident to take a seat in the Hong Kong wine and spirits market.