We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. How Twins’ Charlene Choi went from Cantopop teen idol to top Hong Kong actress
Surviving Hong Kong’s ruthless entertainment industry is a rare feat; doing so while wholly redefining your public image is nearly unprecedented. Yet, Charlene “Ah Sa” Choi Cheuk-yin has managed to do both.
2. As Europe bakes, how people in China kept cool before air conditioning
Europe is currently in the grip of a fierce, unrelenting heatwave, with temperatures in several countries surging past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
3. Gluten-free Chinese food in London? Why coeliac diners will love this dim sum
Trying international foods can be a bit of a minefield for those who follow a gluten-free diet. Take Chinese cuisines, for example; wheat is used in everyday ingredients such as soy sauce, black vinegar and dumpling wrappers.
4. At 32, how a university lecturer became Mr Gay Japan’s first Taiwanese finalist
Academia can often feel like a stifled ivory tower, a place where theory is completely detached from lived experiences and personal stories. But Nick Kueh, a lecturer at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, wants to tackle education differently.
5. Can you get cancer? Hong Kong doctors say it takes more than 1 mistake
Tom Hutchins did not find a lump. What he noticed instead – a tiny, almost imperceptible dot – was enough to change his life. The Hong Kong-based business director, who has lived in the city for a decade, was just 30 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He first spotted something unusual during a routine check in the shower.
6. How do you get a girl to fall in love with you? Ask Emily Lin
Connecting with women is not that hard, says Los Angeles-based content creator Emily Lin Enjie. In her most viral video, “How to get a girl to fall in love with you”, she highlights the importance of simply saying “tell me more” – and then, crucially, of shutting up and listening to the answer.
7. What is ‘urge surfing’? How does it help with addiction and bad habits?
How many times have you promised not to check your socials again or pour another drink – only to do exactly that minutes later? A technique known as “urge surfing” asks us to do something surprisingly simple instead: notice the craving, stay with the discomfort – and let it rise and fall like a wave rather than satisfying it.
