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Lisa Cam

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan says that cosmic energy shifts to a water pillar this month, which clashes with the fire sign of the year. In broader terms, this will be a month of change and purification.
Those who are mature and prudent will gain wealth and authority, but all must be wary of financial fluctuations and major errors in documents and contracts.
According to the stars, the earthly energy will make maintaining the status quo paramount this month. It will be best not to rush things; a steady and methodical approach will be necessary to break through any predicaments.
Read on to discover your predictions for the month.
Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)

This month, those born in the Year of the Rat will experience a significant improvement in fortune compared to last month, thanks to the help of benefactors.
Although the influence of the clash with the tai sui remains, the help of benefactors may offer relief, potentially helping to resolve difficulties secretly.
Rats’ networks of contacts are poised to expand, so they should consider attending more business meetings.
Single Rats will be more likely to meet someone suitable through friends’ introductions. Couples should focus on dates to maintain a stable relationship.
Pay attention to urinary system and oedema issues. Drink plenty of warm water or ginger tea to maintain gastrointestinal health and a smooth metabolism.
Ox (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)

Oxen will experience poor interpersonal relationships this month, particularly with those born in the Year of the Dragon, which could lead to pressure at work.
Workplace disputes and gossip will likely occur, with colleagues easily falling out over trivial matters.
It is recommended to remain silent, focus on your own duties and avoid getting involved in others’ conflicts. Progress will be slow for Oxen, and a sense of being underappreciated may weigh on their minds.
People born under this zodiac sign are likely to need help from friends. For singles, communication difficulties may hinder new romantic developments.
Those in a relationship should bear in mind that stubbornness may lead to arguments with their partner.
Tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)

Those born in the Year of the Tiger will enter a busy period in which earning money will be difficult, but hard work will bring rewards and opportunities to showcase their talents in the long run.
Anticipate a tight schedule with increased business trips and meetings. But as being busy with work and neglecting your partner can easily lead to misunderstandings and complaints, it is recommended to arrange small surprises to help resolve conflicts.
Health-wise, Tigers should pay attention to their liver and gallbladder. Prevent muscle strains by avoiding excessive late nights and stretching regularly.
Rabbit (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

Interpersonal relationships will be strained for Rabbits this month, and petty people will be secretly trying to sabotage them.
The team at work will be filled with negative emotions, and Rabbits need to maintain inner stability and work discreetly to avoid making paperwork errors and being reprimanded by their superiors.
Suspicion will be easily generated in interpersonal relationships, so be extra careful.
Singles may have romantic opportunities, but these will mostly be fleeting affairs, and those in relationships will also be prone to misunderstandings.
Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

This month, Dragons will experience inner conflict and negativity, and will be prone to find themselves focusing on worst-case scenarios.
At work, Dragons will be entrusted with important responsibilities, which will come with real power, but a heavy workload that may leave them feeling overwhelmed.
Be sure to review administrative documents to prevent oversights in contracts or financial errors.
Single Dragons may have opportunities to be introduced to potential partners by elders.
Those in relationships may experience negative and fluctuating emotions, with even a casual joke from their partner potentially sparking an argument.
Snake (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

The fire and earth elements of the month will lead to active thinking and a surge of creativity for Snakes. This will be beneficial for those in planning, creative and sales fields, offering Snakes opportunities to gain recognition within their industry.
Snakes’ personal charm means singles will be likely to meet someone talented and mutually admiring in work interactions.
Those in relationships are likely to surprise their partners with small, creative gestures, leading to harmonious relationships.
Those born under this zodiac sign should beware of eye strain and cardiovascular issues and avoid prolonged screen time.
Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

Horses, who clash with the tai sui this year, will be on an emotional roller coaster this month. Fortunately, there will be opportunities for them to vent their anger, and their emotions will stabilise significantly compared to last month.
At work, it is recommended to stick to your beliefs and steadily complete projects. Pay special attention to the guidance of female mentors.
Horses should be wary of gastrointestinal discomfort and headaches. Maintain sufficient sleep and reduce the intake of spicy foods.
Place a plant in the east of your office this month to promote career success.
Sheep (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)

Sheep are on a stable upward trend this month and will experience excellent interpersonal relationships.
Although work will be busy for them, Sheep will receive strong support from their team. Partnerships may bring windfall gains; be wary of overspending due to the negative influence of a curse star.
Single Sheep will exude a stable charm in social situations, easily attracting someone seeking stability. Couples will experience increased positive interactions and sweetness.
Sheep’s physical fitness will improve this month, but they should be mindful of hand and foot injuries and joint pain, and remember to warm up before exercise.
Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)

This month, Monkeys are among the luckiest zodiac signs. Auspicious stars will shine upon them, and strong connections will bring a series of opportunities, allowing them to turn plans into rewards.
Financial opportunities will abound. Investment strategies are expected to yield returns this month. However, careful review of details will be crucial to prevent disputes arising from contract terms.
Romance will be in the air. Singles will find themselves highly attractive and likely to meet suitable partners or suitors.
Those in relationships will experience a rekindling of romance, but should be wary of unwanted advances.
Rooster (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)

Roosters are entering one of the better months of the year, and auspicious stars resolve the pressure of the year’s excessive fire element.
Under the protection of benefactors, Roosters can turn misfortune into good fortune. Opportunities for promotion and salary increases will be high, and windfall gains will also be on the cards.
Single Roosters will have good romantic luck. Those already in a relationship may have opportunities to discuss marriage.
Roosters will feel physically and mentally refreshed, but should be mindful of foodborne illnesses and respiratory problems. Avoid excessive drinking at social events.
Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)

Those born in the Year of the Dog will experience increased setbacks this month. Career, relationships and environment will all be prone to change, potentially involving relocation or personnel restructuring.
Prepare for contingencies to avoid being caught off guard and facing financial difficulties.
Single Dogs will experience average romantic fortune. Those in relationships will face challenges, with conflicts easily arising from trivial matters. It is advisable to create some space and to handle things calmly.
Dogs should be mindful of traffic safety and potential gastrointestinal issues, and avoid high-octane or extreme sports.
Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)

Pigs will benefit from the water element this month and will receive strong guidance from benefactors. Their talent and creativity will flow freely.
However, the water element could be too strong, meaning Pigs should avoid being too clever, as it may backfire. Interactions with friends will bring opportunities to expand their networks.
Singles may have opportunities for introductions through friends; your professional performance will attract the opposite sex. Couples should plan for the future together, but be wary of emotional outbursts causing arguments.
Pay attention to lower back and kidney issues; have drinks that benefit the liver and kidneys.


Year of the Horse 2026 third month predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs

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How’s your luck in the Year of the Fire Horse’s third month? Feng shui master Andrew Kwan gives his predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs. Photo: Shutterstock

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

A social media trend takes on an ancient Chinese tradition in the form of rolling a pair of walnuts around in your hand until they turn into “jade”. Photo: YouTube/ growithjessie

A 2019 study found that rotating round objects like walnuts, for just 30 minutes, three times daily, significantly improved hand strength and dexterity. Photo: Getty Images

Some people will move metallic spheres, or meditation balls, in place of walnuts around in their palms. Photo: Shutterstock 

In a December 2025 auction at Sotheby’s, a pair of Wenwan walnuts sold for HK$20,160. Photo: Sotheby’s

How cremation became widespread in ancient China despite going against Confucian beliefs

Despite burial being the preferred way of final disposition in Chinese tradition, cremation was widespread during China’s Song dynasty, as many families couldn’t afford to bury their dead. Photo: Shutterstock

These days, most people in Hong Kong are cremated, but the practice was regarded as a form of humiliation or punishment in ancient China. Photo: Shutterstock

Grave sweepers at a Hong Kong cemetery during the Chung Yeung Festival, in which people honour their ancestors. Photo: Dickson Lee

The origins of Hainanese chicken rice and its versions in Singapore, Malaysia and more

Hainanese chicken rice at a restaurant in Hong Kong. From humble origins on the Chinese island of Hainan, the dish spread across Asia, evolving into much-loved local variations from Singapore to Vietnam. Photo: Warton Li

Wenchang chickens are fed a diet of banyan seeds, coconut pulp and peanut bran. Photo: Instagram/hainantouch

In Singapore, Hainanese chicken rice is typically served with a chilli sauce, a finely minced ginger spring onion paste, and a sweet dark soy sauce, with some cucumber on the side.

In Malaysia, the rice is commonly rolled into tight, golf-ball-sized spheres. Photo: Instagram/mamajoleneyu

Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice, served with chicken innards. Photo: Shutterstock

Com ga Hoi An is usually accompanied by a tangy fish-sauce-based dip, called nuoc cham, and shredded papaya. Photo: Bun Bo Bae

Year of the Horse 2026 predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Is your luck in?

Will the Year of the Horse 2026 be lucky for you? Fortune-teller Tong Pik-ha offers her comprehensive predictions for those born under all 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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Year of the Horse 2026: predictions, facts, myths and feng shui

Year of the Horse second month predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Is your luck in?

How’s your luck in the Year of the Horse’s second month? Feng shui master Andrew Kwan gives his predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs. Photo: Shutterstock

Rats look set for an eventful month fraught with obstacles. Photo: Shutterstock

Oxen could face external and internal pressures this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Tigers will have good fortune in their career and love life this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Rabbits could be in for a challenging month, according to Andrew Kwan. Photo: Shutterstock

Dragons should beware of back-stabbers this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Snakes will get opportunities to showcase their strengths this coming month. Photo: Shutterstock

Single Horses are likely to meet potential partners in a business setting this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Career and financial fortunes will be good for Sheep this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Good fortune outweighs bad fortune for Monkeys this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Roosters should not rock the boat this coming month; staying steady and cautious is advised. Photo: Shutterstock

Dogs are in for a smooth month at work. Photo: Shutterstock

Pigs will be lucky in love this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Lunar New Year traditions and customs for each day of the holiday, from food to haircuts

On the eve of Lunar New Year, it is traditional to hold a family reunion dinner. Photo: Getty Images

Families traditionally decorate their home on the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve. Photo: Getty Images

The Kitchen God returns to the Jade Emperor on the second day of Lunar New Year, and families traditionally hold a symbolic reunion dinner to send him off. Photo: Shutterstock

Lucky red packets, known as hong bao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese, are given by elders to children and younger people. Photo: Shutterstock

10 great Lunar New Year food and drink gifts in Hong Kong for Year of the Horse gatherings

Hong Kong hotel Cordis’ Ming Court Deluxe Chinese New Year Hamper is one of the many great gifts you can buy for friends or family members ahead of your next Lunar New Year gathering. Photo: Cordis

Tea WG’s Red Horse Tea. Photo: Tea WG

Laderach’s Year of the Horse limited-edition chocolate boxes. Photo: Laderach

Lady M’s Year of the Horse Gift Set includes crêpe biscuits, a bag charm and red envelopes. Photo: Lady M

Mala Meow’s three-jar Lunar New Year gift set. Photo: Mala Meow

Lucullus’ Blessing Knock Chocolate & Cookie Gift Box includes popping-candy chocolates, butter cookies, crisps and almonds. Photo: Lucullus

Martell’s Year of the Horse cognacs come in packaging featuring calligraphy and horse motifs. Photo: Martell

Penfolds’ Lunar New Year 2026 Grange special edition comes in a special gift box.

Why the Year of the Horse 2026 could bring chaos but also great progress

The Year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17, 2026. Being a “double fire” year, it could mean drastic change ahead. Photo: Shutterstock

2026 will mark the first Year of the Fire Horse since 1966. Photo: Shutterstock

A squad of Red Guards rally in Beijing in 1966 at the beginning of China’s Cultural Revolution. Photo: AFP

England’s national football team captain Bobby Moore holds the Jules Rimet trophy as he is carried by his teammates following England’s victory over Germany in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London. Photo: AFP

Year of the Horse 2026: 5 famous works of equine art through the centuries

A scene from War Horse, performed at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2019. The award-winning British play is one of many artworks made over the centuries with a strong equine focus. Photo: Winson Wong

One Hundred Horses, by Giuseppe Castiglione. Photo: Taiwan National Palace Museum

The cover of a modern edition of Anna Sewell’s 1887 novel. Photo: Amazon

A visitor takes a photo of Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse’s Napoleon at the Great St. Bernard (1807), modelled after Jacques-Louis David’s original from his Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801-1805) series, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, in May 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse

The British play War Horse won recognition for the life-size horse puppets it featured that were operated by three puppeteers working in tandem. Photo: Winson Wong

Hong Kong actor and singer Hins Cheung (right) performs in a scene from Equus. Peter Shaffer’s 1973 play about a troubled teenager with an erotic fixation on horses is one of the darker pieces of equine art. Photo: Dionysus Contemporary Theatre

5 of the best-known horses in Chinese legend, from the Red Hare to qilin

Warlord Lu Bu and his famous horse Red Hare are depicted in the 2013 video game Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends.

Horse-Face (right) and Ox-Head are guardians of the underworld in Chinese folklore. Photo: Zhihu

A stone sculpture of a horse stands near the entrance to the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, in China’s Henan province. Photo: May Tse

The daughter and her horse from a story in the Chinese folk legend collection In Search of the Supernatural. Photo: Baidu

Colourful qilin decorate the roof of a Chinese temple. Photo: Shutterstock

Mongolia’s child jockeys are key to its nomadic heritage, but are they in danger?

Horse rider Dolgorsuren Batoyun (centre) is pictured as a child. Now grown up, the first woman member of Mongolia’s national polo team looks back fondly on the “cultures and customs” her father (right) taught her. Photo: Dominique Backhouse

Genghis Khan Retreat director D’Artagnan Giercke is pictured as a child. Photo: Dominique Backhouse

Dorjpalam Battumur, known as Palam, is a member of the Mongolian national polo team who started horse racing at the age of four. Photo: Dominique Backhouse

Batoyun is pictured riding a horse as a child. Photo: Dominique Backhouse

Tourists enjoy horseback riding near the iconic Turtle Rock outcrop at the Gorkhi Terelj National Park outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Photo: AP

People play polo in Mongolia. Photo: Ghenghis Khan Retreat

Batoyun (right) with her husband and son. In recent years, she has observed changes in laws and regulations that are “better for both jockeys and the horses”. Photo: Dominique Backhouse

How Hong Kong horse riding charity’s equine therapy helps people with disabilities

An instructor for Hong Kong’s Riding for the Disabled Association guides a child on a horse. The non-profit organisation teaches disabled children and some adults to ride a horse to the best of their ability. Photo: RDA

Students ride horses guided by instructors from the Riding for the Disabled Association at the Pokfulam Public Riding School. Photo: RDA

Joelle Scott has been working with the RDA for 30 years. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Scott demonstrates how to ride on a horse model. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Former RDA student Chi Tat (centre) recently returned to work as a volunteer. Photo: RDA

What is horse oil and why is it a popular skin treatment in East Asia?

Horse oil has been used for centuries to treat burned and chapped skin, and later as a beauty product. Photo: Shutterstock

Basashi (horse sushi) in Kumamoto, Japan. Horse oil products are widely available in Japan, where horse meat is eaten. Photo: Sam Evans

Horse oil cream has a lighter, less greasy consistency than creams derived from other animal fats. Photo: Charmzone

Horse oil is a popular traditional product, but a dermatology expert does not recommend its use to her patients because of a lack of research. Photo: Getty Images

New Hong Kong restaurant Yurt brings Kazakhstan’s horsemeat tradition to the city

A variety of dishes at Yurt, including beshbarmak (top left). Photo: Yurt

The beshbarmak – boiled horsemeat served with noodles – at Yurt is made with beef instead of the traditional horsemeat, but it can be upgraded to kazy, seasoned horsemeat sausage. The new restaurant in SoHo, Hong Kong, gives visitors a taste of Central Asia. Photo: Yurt

(From left) Yurt founder Ali Nuraly, head of communications Xeniya Tregubenko and executive chef Marat Zakaryayev. Photo: Yurt

Baursak is a traditional fried dough served with a dip of sour cream and honey. Photo: Lisa Cam

How My Little Pony collectible trading cards took China by storm

My Little Pony trading cards have become hugely popular across China, with fans hoping to find rare cards in packs.

A selection of My Little Pony collectible cards.

People play a game of My Little Pony with the cards. 

A My Little Pony display in Shanghai. Photo: SCMP

What is the horse pose in yoga? Only ‘3 out of 10 students’ can do it, instructor says

A yoga practitioner performs horse pose. Also known as horse face pose or vatayanasana, it is a very advanced posture in yoga that can boost hip mobility and strength. Photo: Shutterstock

Yoga instructor Carrie Pun demonstrates horse pose. Photo: Carrie Pun

How Chinese artist Xu Beihong’s horse paintings have galloped through history

The Three Stallions, by Xu Beihong. The piece is just one example of the many horse paintings that Xu was known for.

Two Galloping Horses (1941), by Xu Beihong. Photo: courtesy of Bonhams

Five Galloping Horses, by Xu Beihong, is seen at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2015. 

Slave and Lion (1924), by Xu Beihong, is displayed during a Christie’s auction preview in Hong Kong in 2006.

Two Horses On Hillside, early 1900s, by Xu Beihong. Photo: Getty Images

Standing Horse (1953), by Xu Beihong.

7 successful people born in the Year of the Horse from Jackie Chan to Ang Lee and Lu Han

Jackie Chan, famous for his stunts and martial arts films, was born in 1954, the Year of the Horse. Photo: Golden Harvest

Brigitte Lin was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 60th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei in 2023. Photo: CNA

Jackie Chan carries the Olympic torch through the Archaeological Park in Pompeii, Italy, on December 22, 2025. Photo: AP

Tu Youyou was a joint winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for her work on artemisinin in the fight against malaria. Photo: Xinhua

Director Ang Lee poses for photos at the 61st Golden Horse Awards in Taipei in 2024. Photo: Reuters

Leon Lai Ming, one of the “Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop”, was awarded the Medal of Honour for his charity work. Photo: Instagram/leonlaifansclub

Lu Han, a former member of K-pop group Exo, is a social media star in China. Photo: Weibo

Zheng Qinwen during a women’s singles match during the China Open at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing, China, in September 2025. Photo: AP

The Chinese cowboys challenging American Old West narratives through art and self-discovery

Self-professed Chinese cowboy Bruce Wang Shibo stands with a horse. The Chinese national is one of those rewriting narratives of the American West. Photo: Bruce Wang Shibo

A piece from Kenneth Tam’s Silent Spikes exhibition. Photo: Christian Carroll

Wang did not intend to stay in the US forever, but has settled in Texas. Photo: Bruce Wang Shibo

A Korean horsehair underskirt sparked a fashion frenzy in China during the Ming dynasty

Ming Emperor Xianzong’s Tour of the Lantern Festival is a painting that depicts Emperor Chenghua in 1485 with eunuchs and palace maids portrayed wearing skirts that look like umbrellas spread out. South Korean researcher Koo Do-young proposes that they are wearing mamigun, the Korean originator to the Chinese maweiqun.

Visitors dressed in traditional Korean attire at the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace during the Joseon dynasty, in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019. Photo: AP

A Korean woman poses with her daughter in traditional hanbok dress, c. 1910. The mamigun was the Korean originator to the underskirt that both rose to fame and died in infamy during the Ming dynasty. Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A section from the painting Beauties in History, attributed to the Ming dynasty artist Qiu Ying. Korean fashion became popular among wealthy Chinese people during Emperor Chenghua’s reign (1465-1487). Photo: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A view of Jeju Island in Korea. During the Joseon period, commodities made of horsehair were mainly provided from Jeju Island. Photo: Shutterstock

Year of the Horse 2026 third month predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances

Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)

Feng shui master Andrew Kwan breaks down this lunar month’s prospects for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs in health, love, work and finances