https://www.scmp.com/rss/37/feed Travel and leisure news, including tours, guides and hotels. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Tribune News Service Tribune News Service George Lucas and Mellody Hobson want their massive spaceship of a museum to be an experience. Across 300,000 sq ft (27,000 sq metres) and 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of park space, there is a lot to take in. Staring up at the 90-foot (27.4 metre) oculus four storeys above the entrance plaza makes one feel like a speck in the galaxy. Instead of trying to conquer everything at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the first visit – there are more than 1,300 works – maybe focus on some of the highlights... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367839/7-best-attractions-lucas-museum-narrative-art-star-wars-banksy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367839/7-best-attractions-lucas-museum-narrative-art-star-wars-banksy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:45:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Uzbekistan, with its rich history of ancient Silk Road craftsmanship and later influences from Imperial Russia to the Soviets, is a country shaped by layers of conquest, trade and intellectual exchange. At the Uzbek capital’s new Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA), the inaugural exhibition – titled “Hikmah” and featuring sculptures and installations by 10 artists from around the world, including Palestine and the United States – sets out to explore the complexity of that cultural... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England has gone on public display at the British Museum in London this month, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets have sold out months in advance, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the UK will... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367798/tapestry-depicting-english-historys-most-important-event-back-uk-after-1000-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367798/tapestry-depicting-english-historys-most-important-event-back-uk-after-1000-years?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press In an episode of his new CNN travel series, chef David Chang is driving down the highway to Las Vegas before stopping at a transport cafe off Interstate 15. The town is Hesperia, California, and the producers wanted Chang to try an Indian restaurant near a windscreen repair store. But Chang spots a Mexican cantina that looks promising. He chooses to eat at both, freaking out his camera crew. “I just wanted to taste things. When I see something, I’m like, ‘Oh, that looks interesting. I would like... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367989/momofukus-david-chang-takes-detours-culinary-road-trip-across-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367989/momofukus-david-chang-takes-detours-culinary-road-trip-across-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:15:04 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo Hong Kong’s five-star hotels can come across as intimidating, with more conservative properties wanting to shield their well-heeled visitors with ornate decor, black-uniformed staff and chintz seat cushions that ask: “Are you worthy?” For Dirk Dalichau, general manager of Mondrian Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, a hotel’s message should be welcoming – not only for guests but the wider community in the city. “I have been involved in so many projects that changed the hospitality landscape,” says the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367017/real-experiences-mondrian-hong-kong-general-manager-why-community-matters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367017/real-experiences-mondrian-hong-kong-general-manager-why-community-matters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Tom Cruise tearing through the Old Town alleyway Zelezna towards the Estates Theatre; Mozart conducting an opera – these are just a couple of scenes from the many classic films shot in Prague, in the Czech Republic. Beyond the Cruise spy thriller Mission: Impossible (1996) and Amadeus (1984), winner of eight Oscars, recent films include Blade Runner 2099 and A Place Called Home. Then there are the television shows, says Hedvika Petrzelkova, a public relations officer at the Czech Film... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367393/9-movie-locations-prague-you-may-recognise-xxx-van-helsing-and-amadeus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367393/9-movie-locations-prague-you-may-recognise-xxx-van-helsing-and-amadeus?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:15:04 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Christophe Leribault, president of the Louvre Museum, is encouraging Asian art lovers to help fund a more than €1 billion (US$1.2 billion) architectural overhaul aimed at easing overcrowding and transforming the visitor experience at the Paris landmark. Leribault arrived in Hong Kong on September 9, fresh from opening a Renaissance exhibition in Tokyo that featured Leonardo da Vinci’s rarely loaned La Belle Ferronniere (circa 1490). Speaking at the French consulate in Hong Kong, he outlined his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3367141/why-frances-louvre-museum-looking-east-help-fund-its-eu1-billion-transformation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3367141/why-frances-louvre-museum-looking-east-help-fund-its-eu1-billion-transformation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Jakki Phillips Jakki Phillips Imagine a classic Chinese landscape of bamboo forest, rice paddies and lotus-filled waterways, dotted with villages that seem untouched by time. Now add to that scene hundreds of castle-like watchtowers, their turrets rising unexpectedly against the skyline. This is Kaiping in Guangdong province, just a couple of hours from Hong Kong by direct high-speed train from West Kowloon Station. It is one of mainland China’s lesser-known Unesco World Heritage sites and home to more than 1,800 distinctive... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366303/why-chinas-unesco-listed-kaiping-watchtowers-are-best-discovered-two-wheels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366303/why-chinas-unesco-listed-kaiping-watchtowers-are-best-discovered-two-wheels?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:15:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam The world of high-end luxury is witnessing a global boom in branded residences, with heritage fashion houses partnering with property developers to build immersive homes in prime locations. Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of Italian luxury fashion and lifestyle brand Etro, has identified the “home” category as a primary engine for growth – and a return to the company’s roots. Its portfolio includes Etro Residences Istanbul and Etro Residences Phuket, which are scheduled for completion in late 2026 and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366188/how-fashion-houses-are-building-branded-residences-demand-ultimate-luxury-booms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3366188/how-fashion-houses-are-building-branded-residences-demand-ultimate-luxury-booms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:15:05 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Politics has had a habit of barging into art biennales of late, from the current Gwangju Biennale in South Korea to the Venice Biennale earlier this year. However, at the Busan Biennale, political noise is not an unfortunate sideshow: it is the whole curatorial premise. The curators, Bahraini-Singaporean artist Amal Khalaf and Brussels-based writer Evelyn Simons, have called their edition of South Korea’s oldest biennale, “Dissident Chorus”. The biennale seeks to move away from “the ruins of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3366251/not-so-dissident-chorus-busan-biennale-2026-makes-some-political-noise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3366251/not-so-dissident-chorus-busan-biennale-2026-makes-some-political-noise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Geopolitical volatility and uncertainty have become an all-too-common part of life. The world is experiencing more active wars than at any point since World War II, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Perhaps the most high-profile conflict this year has been the US-Israel attack on Iran, but it is hardly the only example of the violence and disruption affecting people and locations around the world. One in seven people globally is living with the threat of armed conflict,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365468/how-tourists-are-reacting-war-fuel-prices-and-geopolitical-strife-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365468/how-tourists-are-reacting-war-fuel-prices-and-geopolitical-strife-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Seoul is one of the most populous cities in the world, home to some 10 million people in the centre plus 25 million in the wider metropolitan area. And yet Seoul is not a city that overwhelms visitors. If you are looking for a diverse travel destination in Asia, the South Korean capital is the perfect spot. The city is well-organised and easy to navigate, nestled among mountains and steeped in history – a history found not only in museums but out on the streets, on city walls and in palace... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365790/5-days-seoul-best-things-do-palaces-and-museums-dmz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365790/5-days-seoul-best-things-do-palaces-and-museums-dmz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:45:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Billed as Paris’ first boutique devoted entirely to butter, Le Butter Shop opened last month a short walk from the Eiffel Tower – with 30 varieties from small family producers in Brittany, the Loire Valley and northern France. France eats around 8kg (17.6 pounds) of butter per person a year, according to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food. It is among the highest in the world. Yet the obesity rate is well below the average for wealthy nations – 14 per cent, compared to an average of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365578/butter-believe-it-first-paris-boutique-devoted-frances-favourite-fat-opens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365578/butter-believe-it-first-paris-boutique-devoted-frances-favourite-fat-opens?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 08:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Guests arriving at the Potato Hotel in northern Germany are greeted by a schnapps served in potatoes-turned-tumblers. After taking a bite from the canapés – potato zucchini rolls and sweet potato pie – it should be clear that potatoes rule all at this cosy refurbished farm to the southeast of Hamburg. While waiting for the room key – adorned with a stone potato – visitors can purchase sacks of freshly harvested potatoes at reception. The rooms, some of which used to be cattle pens, are named... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365548/spud-tacular-hotel-celebrates-potatoes-food-facials-and-farming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365548/spud-tacular-hotel-celebrates-potatoes-food-facials-and-farming?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa A new documentary that delves into filmmakers and their associated theme park projects is streaming now on Disney+. Disney Worldbuilders uses interviews and file footage to go behind the scenes and into the childhoods of a set of storytellers. The 60-minute film, directed by Leslie Iwerks, starts with former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger strolling up Main Street at the original Disneyland in California, and wraps up with Iger on the beach in Abu Dhabi, the site of the company’s next major... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3365189/disney-worldbuilders-documentary-captures-magic-turning-films-theme-park-lands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3365189/disney-worldbuilders-documentary-captures-magic-turning-films-theme-park-lands?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Fewer people, cheaper prices, milder weather – the last quarter of the year can offer a lot for travellers. Much of Europe, for example, is arguably better in September and October than the height of summer. Meanwhile, a lot of the northern hemisphere enjoys vibrant autumn colours, and mountainous regions can offer a real escape from crowds in the off-season. Here, travel experts share their recommendations. 1. Japan Travellers have long flocked to Japan in spring to witness the magic of cherry... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364819/6-best-places-visit-during-shoulder-season-japan-austria-and-nepal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364819/6-best-places-visit-during-shoulder-season-japan-austria-and-nepal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo My disdain for Venice has been the subject of lively conversations with friends and family. Yes, its picturesque bridges over canals that criss-cross the town are romantic. Yes, it is the birthplace of the modern printing press and a historic melting pot of cultures influenced by significant trade routes. But stopping in Venice also means fighting crowds from cruise ships, paying daily entry fees to breathe its decadence and facing hugely inflated prices for subpar meals. Instead, Padua is less... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364627/art-saints-galileo-italys-padua-30-minutes-venice-offers-quiet-alternative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364627/art-saints-galileo-italys-padua-30-minutes-venice-offers-quiet-alternative?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:21:16 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Could merely glimpsing a 357-year-old Buddhist manuscript really grant you seven lifetimes of good fortune? An old Chinese folk belief regarding the Tibetan Dragon Canon has recently been revived on social media as the monumental Qing dynasty (1644-1911) scripture takes pride of place in “Tibetan Dragon Canon: A Symphony of Imperial Power, Belief and Art in a Golden Age”, an exhibition at Taipei’s National Palace Museum. While it is impossible to trace the origin of the qishi fubao – good karma... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3364369/357-year-old-buddhist-text-taiwan-said-bring-lifetimes-luck-one-glimpse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3364369/357-year-old-buddhist-text-taiwan-said-bring-lifetimes-luck-one-glimpse?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Reuters Agence France-Presse,Reuters Standing on the ferry as it waits to dock on the Greek island of Ithaca, Giorgia Ongarato is only too keen to talk about the Odyssey – the epic poem about a hero battling his way back home from the Trojan War that inspired Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film. The Italian lawyer says it was her dream to come to Ithaca, widely believed to be the same island as the home of Odysseus in the poem. Dressed in a T-shirt emblazoned with “odyssey” in ancient Greek alongside a line from the poem, she... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364060/are-these-odyssey-islands-prepared-tourist-surge-wake-new-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364060/are-these-odyssey-islands-prepared-tourist-surge-wake-new-film?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The first night in a new place is always the same for Robinson Leoni: he takes longer to fall asleep, wakes up more often during the night and gets less sleep overall. At home he averages seven hours. The first night away – with or without earplugs and regardless of the bed’s quality – his smartwatch tells him he gets about five. “I feel normal, you know, no stress, nothing, but it’s just I notice I wake up continuously,” Leoni says. He is a sales director for a tech company and travels once or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364050/why-first-night-hotel-affects-your-sleep-quality-and-how-improve-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364050/why-first-night-hotel-affects-your-sleep-quality-and-how-improve-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Stepping into the Old Town of Lijiang, a city in China’s Yunnan province, feels like entering the set of a Chinese period drama. Passing timber homes dotted with red lanterns, you walk on slick, rain-polished cobblestones worn down by centuries of Himalayan traders’ footsteps. The 800-year-old network of timber-framed architecture – often associated with Naxi ethnic minority culture – and the town’s alpine canal system earned Unesco World Heritage status in 1997 for exceptional preservation of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3363770/what-dongba-script-only-hieroglyphic-system-still-used-today-found-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3363770/what-dongba-script-only-hieroglyphic-system-still-used-today-found-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Stephen McCarty Stephen McCarty “If you go down to the Sichuan woods, you’re sure of a big surprise…” No, it is not a new species, exactly; but you might chance upon a famous British TV presenter seemingly cosplaying – as a giant panda. This unsettling mise-en-scène occurs during Ben Fogle’s Chinese Adventure, available on Now TV, at the Shenshuping Panda Base, a remote, government-run wildlife unit in Wolong, Sichuan province, where pandas are born and raised before being released to repopulate the mountains. Trouble is, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363248/why-ben-fogle-thinks-he-discovered-real-china-new-tv-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363248/why-ben-fogle-thinks-he-discovered-real-china-new-tv-series?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava In June, I arrived at Sung Tieu’s Berlin studio on the second floor of a gated complex in the city’s northern Wedding district. It was 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit), the start of a punishing European heatwave, and the vast space was flooded with sunlight from large windows overlooking a green courtyard. The studio is divided into two rooms: one for “messy work”, with tools, wide tables and raw materials; the other is a more office-like space that doubles as a library. Tieu... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363055/3-million-mosaic-pieces-later-artist-sung-tieu-asks-germany-wake-its-immigrants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363055/3-million-mosaic-pieces-later-artist-sung-tieu-asks-germany-wake-its-immigrants?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Carolina Malis Carolina Malis For many, a holiday ends with a suitcase full of souvenirs. For a growing number of travellers, however, it ends with skin that looks different – glowier – from how it did at the beginning of the trip. This is the whole premise behind the glowcation, a term everywhere in recent travel trend reports that describes a very specific kind of trip: one built around a wellness treatment, beauty ritual or very targeted pharmacy haul. During a normal holiday, many people will squeeze in an odd spa... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363172/6-glowcation-destinations-your-next-beauty-and-wellness-fix-seoul-marrakech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363172/6-glowcation-destinations-your-next-beauty-and-wellness-fix-seoul-marrakech?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters Everyone knows dinosaurs got really big. Some of ⁠the long-necked plant-eaters were the largest land animals ever on Earth, as shown by Argentinosaurus, perhaps 65 to 80 tonnes (70 to 90 tons) and upwards of 30 metres (around 100 feet) long. But why were there never tiny dinosaurs, like the size of a mouse? As far as we know, none ever existed. New research investigates this phenomenon. Scientists employed mathematical models to explore the evolution of body size across vertebrate groups. They... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363296/why-were-there-no-teeny-tiny-dinosaurs-we-have-mammals-and-birds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3363296/why-were-there-no-teeny-tiny-dinosaurs-we-have-mammals-and-birds?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Sean Cheng Sean Cheng For the crowds that are flocking to the newly opened Shenzhen Natural History Museum, the sprawling structure is commanding as much of their attention as the dinosaur fossils and other specimens that it houses. The 3.5 billion yuan (US$518 million) cultural landmark in the city’s Pingshan district is striking because of its size – the 42,000 square metre (452,000 sq ft) site is the equivalent of six football fields – and the fact that it is a masterclass in biomimicry and sustainable design that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363253/how-shenzhen-natural-history-museum-was-designed-reflect-its-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363253/how-shenzhen-natural-history-museum-was-designed-reflect-its-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 04:15:05 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times For years, Korean food tourism has largely revolved around familiar favourites: Korean barbecue, fried chicken and spicy tteokbokki. But a different trend has emerged across online communities and platforms, including TikTok, Reddit, Instagram and travel blogs. From comforting bowls of pork soup to sweet and savoury snacks and creative convenience store hacks, visitors are moving beyond the obvious tourist picks, seeking out the foods locals enjoy every day. Drawing on recent food trends spotted... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363257/these-7-lesser-known-korean-snacks-are-trending-among-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363257/these-7-lesser-known-korean-snacks-are-trending-among-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:15:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP 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. Are Hong Kong’s restaurants fighting a losing battle against Shenzhen? In Hong Kong neighbourhoods that once hummed with the sound of clinking glasses and chattering diners, independent kitchens sit closed behind metal grilles and many of the restaurants that remain open rarely fill. 2. Hong Kong TV star Kenneth Chan... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363111/hong-kongs-dining-battle-tv-host-fights-insomnia-depression-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363111/hong-kongs-dining-battle-tv-host-fights-insomnia-depression-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Angela Sim Angela Sim In Singapore, reverence for the mightiest celestial beast in Chinese culture finds its most vibrant expression in the dragon dance. Chasing the “pearl of wisdom” to the thunderous beat of percussion, the dragon has symbolised clement weather and bountiful harvests since the Han dynasty (206BC-AD220). Today, it remains central to Lunar New Year celebrations and blessings for new beginnings. Among its most distinctive local evolutions is the Fire Dragon Dance of Sar Kong Mun San Fook Tuck Chee, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362747/why-singapores-record-breaking-giant-fire-dragon-goes-smoke-every-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362747/why-singapores-record-breaking-giant-fire-dragon-goes-smoke-every-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Paul Kay Paul Kay From surfing hotspots and hedonistic hang-outs to wave-lapped wellness retreats and exclusive seafront resorts, Bali is home to some of the world’s most iconic beaches. But while the likes of Uluwatu, Seminyak and Jimbaran Bay draw sunseekers in their thousands, another lesser-known beach on the island’s southeastern coast is emerging as an alternative to its more famous peers. Located just south of the popular town of Sanur, Pengembak Beach offers something refreshingly different to the more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362348/not-typical-bali-why-little-known-pengembak-beach-hosting-jia-curated-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362348/not-typical-bali-why-little-known-pengembak-beach-hosting-jia-curated-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Leonard R. Garner Jnr loves roller coasters. And the mostly-retired television director and actor has a place in his heart for Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park in California atop the studio where he spent many days behind a camera. He also adores the tranquillity of his home. As a resident of Toluca Lake, the tiny neighbourhood nestled below The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World and other park staples, Garner watched with curiosity as Universal Studios began... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362486/someone-getting-murdered-out-there-fast-furious-roller-coaster-rattles-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362486/someone-getting-murdered-out-there-fast-furious-roller-coaster-rattles-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Blackpink have headlined Coachella, as have Stray Kids at Lollapalooza, while Seventeen have rocked Glastonbury and Le Sserafim have dazzled Summer Sonic. Yet Korea has no equivalent – there is no festival that sees music fans around the world book flights to K-pop’s birthplace every year. But that is about to change. “Fanomenon”, a K-culture mega-event unveiled this week by South Korea’s Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, is the most ambitious attempt to fill that gap. More... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362243/korea-plans-coachella-style-giant-k-pop-festival-bring-200000-global-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3362243/korea-plans-coachella-style-giant-k-pop-festival-bring-200000-global-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Morning coffee is an essential part of many people’s daily routine. In Hong Kong’s high-stakes food and beverage scene, coffee is a key revenue driver; in 2024 alone, the city imported US$92.3 million worth of beans to keep its bustling cafes and hotel lobbies humming. Yet beneath the steam and foam lies a sprawling, interconnected global supply chain. Before that cup of coffee ever reaches a patron’s lips, it has passed through a global web of traders, roasters and logistics operators. But for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361938/where-does-your-coffee-come-starbucks-buyer-drinks-complex-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361938/where-does-your-coffee-come-starbucks-buyer-drinks-complex-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:45:06 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Lee Hae-rin The moment the plane touches down in Chengdu, it is immediately clear this is China’s panda capital. Giant black-and-white sculptures line the arrival hall, cartoon pandas beam from wayfinding signs and duty-free displays, and airport cafes serve lattes topped with foamy panda faces. The most beloved animal in the country is everywhere, from street murals to subway advertisements, and it sits at the centre of the city’s cultural identity and tourism boom. Giant pandas are only... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361736/inside-black-and-white-panda-monium-chengdu-chinas-panda-capital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361736/inside-black-and-white-panda-monium-chengdu-chinas-panda-capital?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:15:06 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times By Baek Byung-yeul A viral video of a Japanese calligraphy teacher’s reunion with her famous student offered an interesting glimpse at one of South Korea’s fastest-growing tourism trends. In a YouTube video uploaded on June 28, Minami, a Japanese member of the rising K-pop girl group Rescene, visited her hometown in Chiba and reunited with her former calligraphy teacher. During their conversation, the teacher revealed that she had flown back to Japan that day after undergoing a cosmetic... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361143/why-tourists-are-flocking-south-koreas-pharmacies-and-wellness-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361143/why-tourists-are-flocking-south-koreas-pharmacies-and-wellness-services?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service By Todd Martens My dinner course is served. It is covered by a Campbell’s-inspired soup can, lightly angled so strands of broccoli are peeking out. I lift the can to uncover a slow-braised short rib and mashed potatoes. It is an American dish to represent an American artist – Andy Warhol. The room is filled with projections, scenes of bustling New York traffic paired with bachelor-pad-like guitar riffs. Warhol silkscreens are shown on a wall above a dinner table. It is a Friday night in West... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361192/byte-eat-immersive-dining-goes-hi-tech-los-angeles-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3361192/byte-eat-immersive-dining-goes-hi-tech-los-angeles-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press With one of their arms raised and the other lowered, hundreds of people move every morning like birds spreading their wings at the heart of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. They are performing a movement in tai chi, a physical and philosophical practice developed more than 300 years ago that continues to resonate in China today. “The environment is great and the air is good too,” Ye Guirong, 64, says. “You can see we’re surrounded by trees.” Most practitioners are retirees in their 60s and beyond.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360749/everyones-health-has-improved-how-tai-chi-energises-these-chinese-retirees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360749/everyones-health-has-improved-how-tai-chi-energises-these-chinese-retirees?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:15:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Competition is fierce for professional photographers at Beijing’s tourist hotspots, including a scenic lake where women in flowy traditional robes pose for snaps to share on RedNote, China’s massively popular lifestyle app also known as Xiaohongshu. The platform, which is reportedly preparing to file to go public as soon as this year, has shaken up the tourism industry in China, where domestic travel is booming to record levels. RedNote’s interface is similar to the US social network Pinterest,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3360458/indispensable-me-how-rednote-has-taken-over-chinas-travel-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3360458/indispensable-me-how-rednote-has-taken-over-chinas-travel-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:45:05 +0000 Winnie Chung Winnie Chung When most of us think of an adventure, it might be a demanding mountain hike or a remote backpacking trek. But for corporate executive and polar explorer Roland Krueger, it is navigating a continent entirely hostile to life. In his most recent expedition, in November last year, Krueger and long-time friend Lars Ebbesen completed a gruelling 275km (171-mile) journey through the remote and spectacular peaks of Queen Maud Land, stretching across East Antarctica. This was no ordinary polar traverse.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3360316/no-human-has-ever-been-how-former-dyson-ceo-charted-new-antarctic-route-skis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3360316/no-human-has-ever-been-how-former-dyson-ceo-charted-new-antarctic-route-skis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Standing in a protected heritage landscape in the remote, mist-shrouded mountains of northern Vietnam, the Garrya Mu Cang Chai resort features a main building that is believed to be the largest bamboo structure in the country. Part of the Singapore-based hospitality company Banyan Group, the resort is well worth the winding, six-hour drive from Hanoi to Pu Nhu Village, in Yen Bai province’s mountainous rural district of Mu Cang Chai. Mu Cang Chai’s layered rice terraces, sculpted over 400 years... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3360456/stunning-vietnamese-mountain-resort-luxury-meets-local-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3360456/stunning-vietnamese-mountain-resort-luxury-meets-local-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Xiong Yang Xiong Yang It is daunting to write about Wuhan, where I spent my childhood. This is in part because the city feels too familiar; biking through its winding streets evokes memories of lavishly long summer days. At the same time, the city’s tarnished reputation since the Covid-19 pandemic makes me worry about sounding too eager to parade its charms. The capital of China’s Hubei province was born out of the merging of three towns – Hankou, Hanyang and Wuchang – into one sprawling city. Its location in the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3359804/best-things-do-wuhan-chinas-breakfast-capital-revealed-new-light?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3359804/best-things-do-wuhan-chinas-breakfast-capital-revealed-new-light?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Vincent van Gogh painted one of his masterpieces, Starry Night Over the Rhone (1888), on the banks of this mighty river. Not far from where Van Gogh set up his easel in the late 1800s, the new Lumiere riverboat docked during its recent maiden voyage to Arles, France. Lumiere, appropriately enough, means “light” in French. The light in Provence served as a muse for the Dutch post-Impressionist. Van Gogh captured the luminance on canvas in everything from sun-soaked landscapes to inky, star-filled... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3359247/taking-van-goghs-landscapes-white-horses-and-wine-riverboat-down-rhone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3359247/taking-van-goghs-landscapes-white-horses-and-wine-riverboat-down-rhone?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Fionnuala McHugh Fionnuala McHugh The first time Michelle Garnaut visited Nanteuil-en-Vallee in southwestern France was in 1990. The previous year, she had opened M at the Fringe in Hong Kong, a restaurant that set such a high standard for fine dining that it had already attracted a devoted clientele. Some of these patrons invited her to Nanteuil, a village of historic charm – an 8th century abbey, a medieval church – listed as one of France’s “small towns of character”. On that initial trip, Garnaut, who is Australian,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3359098/rich-and-fascinating-new-literary-festival-france-has-hong-kong-connection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3359098/rich-and-fascinating-new-literary-festival-france-has-hong-kong-connection?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Suchao Li Suchao Li On June 1, International Children’s Day, an exhibition opened in Shanghai that brought back memories of the time I spent in a Children’s Palace while growing up in mainland China. During the 1950s, following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, these state-run institutions were built nationwide as places where recreation, education and socialist ideals converged. I went to one for extracurricular dance, music, painting, science and sports classes. Children’s Palaces drew on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3359310/what-was-it-attend-childrens-palace-china-socialist-institution-revisited?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3359310/what-was-it-attend-childrens-palace-china-socialist-institution-revisited?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Although many parents probably remember getting sunburned as children, it has become increasingly apparent that sun-damaged skin can be dangerous later in life. Nevertheless, it seems lots of children are still getting sunburned, and research in the UK from 2024 has found that 59 per cent of children have been sunburned at least once. But while the pain and redness from sunburn diminish after a few days, it could have caused irreversible damage to children’s skin, which may rear its head when... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3359249/how-sunburn-children-can-lead-skin-cancer-later-life-these-tips-can-protect-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3359249/how-sunburn-children-can-lead-skin-cancer-later-life-these-tips-can-protect-them?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jul 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter Wherever I travel, I love to immerse myself in a new place on foot. It is the best way to notice the detail, experience the sights, smells and sounds first hand, and get a real sense of everyday life there. So when I heard about a run-cation on Rapa Nui – also known as Easter Island – I knew this was just the trip for me. Organised by event company Rat Race, it is a five-day tour of the small, remote Pacific island famous for its monolithic stone humanoid monuments that brings together... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3359111/why-50km-ultra-marathon-magical-5-day-easter-island-holiday-race-no-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3359111/why-50km-ultra-marathon-magical-5-day-easter-island-holiday-race-no-other?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Patricia Hung, a Canadian in her forties, arrived in Seoul recently with six friends to celebrate her birthday and found a city of shopping and relentless energy – until a singing bowl meditation session on a Sunday showed her something else. “It feels amazing and very tailored, like a reset,” she says. “I’m very at peace right now, really relaxed.” The session was part of this year’s Seoul Quality Tour Packages, a city-designated programme running since 2013 that offers itineraries spanning... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3359153/k-culture-meditation-esports-how-these-tours-reveal-seouls-hidden-side?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3359153/k-culture-meditation-esports-how-these-tours-reveal-seouls-hidden-side?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jul 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun There are many reasons tourists visit Da Nang in central Vietnam: the great city beach, the proximity to tourist hotspot Hoi An, and the food and nightlife. But the nature excursions available in the city are underrated. Jutting out of its downtown core on the northeast side is the Son Tra Peninsula, a lush nature reserve roughly 60 sq km (23 square miles) – two-thirds the size of Hong Kong Island. American troops used the peninsula’s elevated headland during the Vietnam war, carving access... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3358694/hiking-monkey-mountain-da-nang-vietnam-search-most-beautiful-primate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3358694/hiking-monkey-mountain-da-nang-vietnam-search-most-beautiful-primate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:15:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse From a gas crater dubbed the “Gateway to Hell” to the shimmering marble buildings of its capital, Turkmenistan is tentatively opening up to tourists after decades of isolation. One of the world’s most reclusive countries, the former Soviet republic adopted strict visa requirements after gaining independence in 1991, and closely monitors visitors. While this policy remains largely in place, tour agencies in the Central Asian nation have noticed a recent decrease in visa rejections and this year... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3358312/reclusive-turkmenistan-opening-worlds-weirdest-country-worth-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3358312/reclusive-turkmenistan-opening-worlds-weirdest-country-worth-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:30:20 +0000 dpa dpa The most famous places in the world seem to be on everyone’s wish lists – and are often the first places people will travel to in a particular country before exploring anywhere else. From the crowded piazzas of Venice to the slow-moving tourists within Dubrovnik’s historic walls, some visits can leave you feeling like you wish you had the place to yourself. Beyond long queues and a lack of authentic feel, overtourism can put considerable strain on a location, from the wear and tear of historic... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3358420/3-travel-alternatives-venice-barcelona-and-dubrovnik-fewer-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3358420/3-travel-alternatives-venice-barcelona-and-dubrovnik-fewer-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:15:05 +0000