Literature

Timeless treasures: How wuxia captured generations on print and screen

From rare, handwritten manuscripts surviving only in Singapore to the multibillion-view world of modern xianxia, wuxia remains a cultural powerhouse. Lianhe Zaobao senior correspondent Lim Fong Wei gives us a glimpse of a special exhibition from this year’s City Reading @ SG festival, tracing how these legendary martial arts tales evolved from newspaper serials into global screen phenomena.

Lim Fong Wei

30 Apr 2026

[Photos] Cheng Li-wun’s bid to reclaim the Kuomintang’s lost identity in cross-strait politics

Kuomintang (KMT) chair Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland China marks a bold attempt to reshape the Kuomintang’s ideological direction, reviving contested historical narratives in a bid to reclaim the party’s lost identity and redefine its role in cross-strait politics amid rising tensions. Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao shares his personal observations.

Hsu Chung-mao

17 Apr 2026

[Video] Why young Chinese are paying to ‘time-travel’ at dinner

More people in China are buying into the recent trend of immersive dining at themed restaurants, which offer diners an opportunity to experience Chinese history and culture, from dressing up in costumes from various dynasties to being part of familiar classics like Dream of the Red Chamber. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yush Chau dives in.

Yush Chau

26 Feb 2026

[Big read] The rise and fall of China’s independent bookstores

Built by idealists and sustained by belief, independent bookstores became places to gather and breathe in China. As the tide turns, their owners face the hardest question: how long to keep the lights on. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui speaks to academics and those in the industry to find out more.

Zhang Guanghui

19 Jan 2026

Taiwanese art historian: My Aquarian friend Hualing who embraced everyone [Part 2]

Taiwanese art historian Chiang Hsun continues reminiscing about his time in Iowa, US, with Hualing Nieh Engle, as well as other prominent literary figures such as Wang Zengqi and Ah Cheng. Through ups and downs, Nieh’s Aquarian character shines through, strong and resilient.

Chiang Hsun

02 Jan 2026

Web novels, web dramas and video games: China’s holy trinity of cultural exports reaches Singapore

Once confined to niche online platforms, China’s web novels, web dramas and video games are now taking the world by storm. In Singapore, local youths are embracing these cultural exports, which are rekindling an interest in Chinese culture. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhu Yuxuan explores their appeal to Singaporean audiences.

Zhu Yuxuan

30 Dec 2025

Taiwan art historian: My Aquarian friend Hualing who embraced everyone [Part 1]

Taiwan art historian Chiang Hsun remembers his time in Iowa, US, with Hualing Nieh Engle, reminiscing on her ability to embrace people from all walks of life — a perfect example of an Aquarian. Such is the breadth and depth of the Aquarius’s rushing waters, endlessly flowing, with the water bearer’s energy always being given away to all living creatures.

Chiang Hsun

26 Dec 2025

A Taiwanese boy named Thomas and the faith he made his own

Taiwanese art historian Chiang Hsun reflects on his spiritual journey, from youthful devotion to quiet estrangement, contemplating the place of Catholic faith in modern life in the wake of Pope Francis’s passing.

Chiang Hsun

12 Dec 2025

From deliveryman to tofu maker: The everyday poets of China

In the past, literary pursuits might have been the preserve of the elite. In modern-day Shanghai, however, the creation and appreciation of literature has been democratised, buoyed by the advent of social media. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang explores Shanghai’s burgeoning literary scene.

Li Kang

09 Dec 2025

[Video] Boys’ Love in China: From fan fiction to cultural soft power

Once a niche subculture, China’s danmei (耽美), or Boys’ Love fiction, has grown into a global phenomenon adored by millions of young women. But after a wave of crackdowns and tighter online controls, questions are rising over danmei’s future, both within China and as a vehicle of global soft power.

Yi Jina

14 Nov 2025

Fuzhou: Where every street tells a story and every bite delights

Fuzhou is a city rich in history, connected to well-known figures throughout time. Yet today, it beautifully bridges past and present — preserving its historic architecture and beloved culinary traditions for all to experience. Former Lianhe Zaobao senior correspondent Chia Yei Yei takes us through this charming city.

Chia Yei Yei

03 Oct 2025

Turning Lu Xun into a smoking icon is a cruel irony

Amid the controversy surrounding a mural of Lu Xun smoking at the Shaoxing Lu Xun Memorial Hall, academic Zhang Tiankan asks: has anyone considered what Lu Xun — the leading figure of modern Chinese literature — would have wanted?

Zhang Tiankan

12 Sep 2025