Hong Kong’s vanishing neon lights, athlete endorsements, and Southeast Asian hiccups for TikTok Shop

Hong Kong’s vanishing neon lights, athlete endorsements, and Southeast Asian hiccups for TikTok Shop

One of our features this week looks at another aspect of nightlife: nocturnal cityscapes, in this case Hong Kong and its increasingly less neon-drenched streets. Though Hong Kong’s neon signs are threatened by strict regulations, as RADII’s Sebastien Raybaud discovered, passionate advocates are committed to preserving this unique slice of the city’s visual culture.

Speaking of advertisements, with the Olympics all wrapped up, there’s a whole new roster of Chinese star athletes ending up on billboards. Rachel Lu took a look at what can make an athlete the perfect ambassador for a brand.

Personally, I’m excited that I — maybe — won’t need to listen to the same Eileen Gu laundry detergent ad twice on a 30-second elevator ride.

Here’s what was happening in, around, or connected to China this past week:

New Gen Z students are giving a boost to the traditional funeral craft of Zhizha.

Chinese businesses are enjoying great sales in Southeast Asia via platforms like TikTok Shop. But protectionism in Indonesia and Thailand could create difficulties going forward.

Intrigued? Keep scrolling, my friend.

Keeping the Glow Alive: Preserving Hong Kong’s Endangered Neon Art

The beating heart of a city, its effervescent soul ever flickering day and night — in Hong Kong, neon signs are threatened, but for the time being continue to stand silhouetted against the dark night skies, dancing with their curvilinear shapes.

RADII caught up with artist Karen Chan Ka-lun (also known by her artist name Chankalun) and architects Kevin Mak King-wai and Ken Fung Tat-wai, founders of the conservation group Street Sign HK, to learn about the different ways they’re working to keep neon glowing in Hong Kong.

Check out the full article by Sebastien Raybaud on our website.

Hollywood’s Asian trailblazer: the fierce presence of Lucy Liu

When it comes to badass women in movies, few can compete with Lucy Liu. The signature cool face and fierce glare from her iconic characters in Kill Bill and Charlie's Angels have made her one of the most recognised and popular Asian actresses among audiences worldwide, succeeding in both TV and films. Her dedication to portraying Asian women in a more empowering light has paved the way for greater diversity and representation in the industry.

Mind filled with impure thoughts? Hong Kong’s Education Bureau suggests you play badminton.

Bad news for dumpling lovers: Din Tai Fung is closing its fourteen branches in Northern China.

Someone needs to figure out how to make tango (or klezmer) cool in China, in order to save the business of Shanghai’s last accordion-maker.

Still better than Raygun.

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