Journey to Calm: Sanctuary in the Heart of a Metropolis 平靜之旅：城市中的寺院

Silence and refuge in a world of hustle and bustle is hard to find. Our editorial team had the pleasure of visiting @tszshanmonastery , where we experienced the most breathtaking views and Chinese architecture in a serene setting. Located on the green slopes of Mt. Pat Sin Leng in Hong Kong, Tsz Shan sits majestically on the hillside above the waters of Plover Cove, surrounded by lushly-forested hills away from the global city’s dense core. Its tranquillity is foreign — unfamiliar to the intensity of Hong Kong’s pace, and a serene reminder to calm the heart. Visit our website to read more details on this incredible place that is a must visit once we can travel again! ⁠

Food and Lifestyle, History & ArchitectureDeborah Lau-YuJune 29, 2021hong kong, temple, meditation, travelComment

Qipao: Heart of a Craftsman 東方美‧匠人心‧旗袍韻

The appearance of the qipao is the origin of modern Chinese fashion. Women adorned in high-collared and fitted qipao dresses were seen as embodying “oriental” beauty. A hundred years later, the qipao has weathered the storm of the many historical changes in China and established an irreplaceable position in modern Chinese culture. This charming dress form has become part of mainstream fashion around the world.

Art and FashionRuizhou LiJune 24, 2021qipao, Art, fashion, Hong Kong, hong kong weekComment

A Summer’s End - Cultures Collide in Hong Kong 1986

Cultures collide: where art meets game culture and tells a story that doesn't often get heard in Asian cultures. Just in time for Pride Month, read more on what Jasmine Chen, an Asian Canadian leader in theatre, thought about “A Summer’s End - Hong Kong 1986.” It is a breathtaking emotional narrative captured in a visual novel, created by Asian-Canadian game developers Charissa So and Tida Kietsungden. They are the hearts and minds behind Oracle & Bone, an independent game studio in Vancouver. ⁠
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The story follows Michelle, a buttoned up office worker living in Hong Kong during the heydays of the 1980s. She meets Sam, a free-spirited woman and unconventional entrepreneur, by chance after an incident involving a broken heel. They share a mutual attraction, and the story takes off with emotion and addresses issues of identity not often forged in Chinese culture.⁠

TYLER SHAW《LEAN ON ME》加拿大華裔歌手葉銘恆《依靠我》

Who else is celebrating their first Father’s Day? Canadian singer songwriter Tyler Shaw has been producing music and sharing his thoughts from home throughout the pandemic. He also welcomed his baby daughter into the world, who pops up in his feed regularly! Happy first Father’s Day, Tyler! Last year, we had a chance to spend some time with Tyler (at the lovely Hazelton Hotel Toronto) to learn about his journey of music, his relationship with Chinese heritage, also his ArtistsCan project initiated with fellow Canadian artist, Fefe Dobson.

Art and Fashion, Personal StoriesRuizhou LiJune 17, 2021Tyler Shaw, Music, chinese canadian, fatherComment

Experiences Dad will Cherish

Father’s Day is this coming weekend, and after months of lockdowns across the country, many provinces are opening back up just in time to toast our dads! In this past year of pandemic living, we have re-engaged our gardens and homes, set foot on newly discovered trails in our own backyards, and driven to local destinations in search of interesting experiences. We’ve come up with a list of experiences to add to your idea bank, in case you haven’t figured out what to do with the family yet! While our list of venues is focussed in Ontario, the ideas are applicable wherever you reside!

Objects of DesireDeborah Lau-YuJune 15, 2021father's day, travel, giftsComment

From Ritual to Sport: Dragon Boating 龍舟競賽: 由節日喜慶發展到國際性體育項目

Even though this year we aren’t able to see the annual Dragon Boat races in Toronto, we look forward to it activities in the Fall of 2021 and the return of the Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival in 2022! Learn more about this tradition and our Canadian national team members who shared their story with us in Edition 3, Luck & Ritual. We have utmost respect for these highly experienced and decorated athletes in our community.

Community & PeopleDeborah Lau-YuJune 10, 2021Dragon Boat Festival, Sports, Recommended, Magazine PhotoshootComment

JUST IN TIME: BLOOD AND WATER’S SEASON 3 BEGINS JUNE 13th

Just in time to fill the void left by the abrupt end of one show with a mostly Asian cast from another network, Rogers announced the third season of Blood and Water yesterday, the only trilingual Canadian production in English, Cantonese and Mandarin that is produced in Canada. It is also a labour of love, having been brought to life during the pandemic, with the on and off shutdowns that made for an exhausting and extended filming process. After over a year in the making during the emergency lockdown in Toronto, it is finally airing June 13th on OMNI Television on Sunday evenings.

Blood and Water: Fire + Ice is an 8-episode 30 minute crime series uniquely featuring three languages, English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, with an all Asian main cast. Produced in Canada, Blood and Water: Fire+Ice is tailored to resonate with a multi-cultural audience, while keeping the authenticity of Chinese culture in the West (North America). Starring award winning Canadian actress and Fête Chinoise-loved Selena Lee, and many Chinese Canadian talents.

The Master of Traditional Handmade Silk Buttons 傳統花釦之工藝大師

In Hong Kong resides a traditional artisan of embroidered button fasteners for cheongsams (qipaos) and other garments. Master Po Ming-Wah is one of the few artisans of this craft still practicing in Hong Kong today, however, this art is becoming extinct. Fête Chinoise had an opportunity to sit down with Master Po and presidents of Cheongsam Connect, Anita Tsang and Donna Cheung in Hong Kong to better understand the history and current challenges of the practice. Each of Master Po’s intricate knots have auspicious names, an intentional meaning, and a corresponding design.

Art and FashionDeborah Lau-YuJune 3, 2021Hong Kong, hong kong week, cheongsam, qipao, silk button, craftmanshipComment

K BODY AND MIND: Subverting Cyberpunk

In K BODY AND MIND, you see two women on stage. They are Asian. Their hair and clothing are identical, but they are not twins. What happens when they open their mouths is probably not what you’d expect. Over the three episodes of K BODY AND MIND, you hear these two women voice a whole cast of characters, dozens of background voices, and a dog. Those two women are myself and actor Donna Soares.

Acting Like it’s the 1970s 演藝夢想: Eugene Tang 飾演70年代的譚詠麟

Acting in a movie — that was the dream. In particular, to be able to act in a Chinese film. Being Canadian-born with Chinese ethnicity, that was what I dreamed about as a kid. I wanted to be in the movies that my immigrant parents loved to watch, the ones they made me watch while growing up in Calgary. It was a family weekend ritual that my parents could enjoy to remind them of a home that they missed and that I never really knew. My parents were from Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and decided to move to Canada in hopes my sister and I would be able to go to university here. To be in a movie with actors in those very films we watched at home is still surreal and is something I'm very grateful for.

Making Rice Dumplings at Home with Ann

Food brings back fond cultural memories for all of us, no matter what age we are living in! Renowned culinary instructor Ann shares with us a childhood favourite of hers — rice dumplings (in Taiwanese style). Not only delicious, this traditional staple is also simple to make. This recipe is from history that dates back centuries ago, and is now rooted in our modern culture through the home kitchens of millions around the world.
暖心的食物是記載歷史的秘訣。知名烹飪老師Ann 與我們分享她與丈夫兒時最愛的台灣棕子食譜，不僅易做，還帶回了美好的回憶。

Food and Lifestyle, Design DialogueGuest UserJune 1, 2021Food, Recipe, Chinese Food, taiwa, rice dumplings, Dragon Boat FestivalComment

56+ Fabulous Father's Day Gifts for the Dad Who Has Everything 【2021父親節禮物指南】致爸爸的56+份超酷心思推介

In celebration of Father's Day right around the corner, we curated 56+ fabulous gifts for the amazing fathers in your life — whether it's your own dad, the father of your child, or a friend who has been an inspiring father figure, this is a special day to express appreciation to them. During this pandemic, we may not be able to see this special person, but a little gift will warm their hearts.

Objects of DesireGuest UserMay 27, 2021Gifts, Gifting, father's dayComment