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Results for "Shandong"

17 stories found

China village holds ceremony where 600 men bow in homage to ancestors, igniting gender debate
CultureSCMP20d ago

China village holds ceremony where 600 men bow in homage to ancestors, igniting gender debate

A traditional ceremony in a village in eastern China, where men bow and kowtow in reverence to their ancestors while women watch from the sidelines, has ignited debate over gender roles in cultural practices. In February, a viral video captured a compelling scene from Dalei village in Yanggu county, Shandong province, during the Chinese New Year holiday. The footage shows more than 600 men from the Lei clan lined up along a red carpet in front of the ancestral hall. Arranged by age and lineag...

‘Real-life Cinderella’: China stuntwoman transitions from playing body double to stardom
CultureSCMP3d ago

‘Real-life Cinderella’: China stuntwoman transitions from playing body double to stardom

Famous Chinese actress Li Yitong, who rose from being Zhao Liying’s stunt double to becoming a leading actress, has taken on 14 roles in a single year, earning her the name of a “real-life Cinderella”. Li, whose original name is Li Xue, was born in September 1990 in Jinan, Shandong province, northern China, and graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy with a major in folk dance. After graduation, she planned to open a teahouse that incorporated dance performances. However, while searching fo...

China woman quits teaching to sell coffins to Europe, generating US$6 million sales annually
BusinessSCMP1mo ago

China woman quits teaching to sell coffins to Europe, generating US$6 million sales annually

In China, death is traditionally seen as a taboo and often tied to bad luck. But in Heze, a city in eastern China’s Shandong province, this cultural barrier has given rise to a booming industry. According to Personage magazine, Lisa Liu, 29, from Heze was once a teacher. Exhausted and hoarse from the pressure of work, Liu switched careers in July 2023. After a chance interview, she went into coffin sales, focusing on the European market, particularly Italy. Her boss took her on a tour of the...