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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 Carina Lau became a top film star and her best movies
Hong Kong actress Carina Lau Ka-ling always brings a strong sense of presence to her work, whether she is appearing in drama or comedy, as a leading actress or a supporting player.
2. A US$24 dried plum? Hong Kong seller preserves tradition while modernising

Yiu Fung, a company specialising in leung gwo – preserved fruit – is a Hong Kong success story, now managed by third-generation manager Viego Szeto and his brother Szeto Wing-shun.
3. From pirate flag to social justice symbol, the Jolly Roger’s evolution

Pirates, ahoy! You may be visualising RL Stevenson’s Treasure Island, legendary figures like Blackbeard, fictional pirates like Peter Pan’s Captain Hook or The Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow – and, of course, the familiar and much-feared flag featuring a white skull and crossbones on a black background, known as the Jolly Roger.
4. Over 60? It’s not too late – exercising body and mind can ward off dementia
Here is the proof you can teach “old dogs” new tricks and that even in our 60s and beyond, people can get fitter, stronger and more resilient to cognitive decline. Laura Baker, a professor in geriatrics at Wake Forest University’s school of medicine, in the US state of North Carolina, recently led a study that examined a combination of interventions that “led to a statistically significant greater improvement in global cognition”, or overall mental ability.
5. Seoul Art Week draws big crowds and headline sales despite market downturn
The start of September saw hundreds of galleries flock to Seoul and major exhibitions open at many of the city’s museums as two contemporary art fairs – Frieze Seoul and Kiaf – opened to mark the South Korean capital’s annual Art Week.
6. ‘No shoes, no news’ resort awarded best hospitality by World’s 50 Best Hotels

Soneva Fushi, a luxury resort in the Baa Atoll Unesco Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, has won the Art of Hospitality Award in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 ranking.
7. Cong Quartet celebrate 10th anniversary with Hong Kong concert
They say a week in politics can be a long time, but try 10 years in chamber music. No one can appreciate the magnitude of that commitment more than Hong Kong’s foremost string quartet, the Cong Quartet, as they reflect on a decade of challenges, member changes and the well-earned awards along the way.