Ying Ying Makes history

This year, Hong Kong celebrated the birth of its first locally born panda cubs! 🎉🐼

The cubs, affectionately dubbed “Little Brother” and “Elder Sister,” were born to Ying Ying, who is 19 years old, making her the world’s oldest first-time giant panda mother. 

This milestone was achieved thanks to the dedication of the animal care team at Ocean Park Hong Kong and their extensive knowledge of giant panda care and breeding-related behaviours.

Did you know that giant pandas are naturally solitary, coming together only during the breeding season from March to May? 🤔

After mating, the parents separate, leaving the mother to raise the young alone.

At Ocean Park Hong Kong, the animal care team closely observed Ying Ying and Le Le during the annual mating season to create the right conditions for the pair to mate naturally.

When Ying Ying gave birth to twins, the team supported her by using an incubator to help care for both cubs and introducing stuffed animals with their scent to establish a strong bond.

The team aims to give Ying Ying the chance to learn how to be a mother and care for the cubs until they are two to three years old.

This nurturing approach reflects Ocean Park’s commitment to a high standard of animal care. 

Are you excited to meet Ying Ying and her adorable twin cubs? 🐾✨

A Ray of Hope

As a coastal city, Hong Kong has always had a unique bond with the ocean. 🏙️🌊⚓

To safeguard the oceans and combat the decline of marine biodiversity, breeding programmes for marine life have become essential under human care.

Recently, Ocean Park Hong Kong achieved a major breakthrough by recording the first live birth of a cownose ray pup via artificial insemination!

Over several weeks, Ocean Park’s dedicated teams trained the rays for voluntary examinations, allowing the artificial insemination procedure to be performed without sedation.

This remarkable success paves the way for the ex-situ conservation of this endangered species while providing insights into their behaviours and reproductive patterns!

Here are a few key learnings:

The gestation period of cownose rays is over a year (61 weeks and 2 days, to be precise)!

Successful artificial Insemination involves keeping the rays healthy and conducting regular pregnancy follow-ups.

Ocean Park can now apply Artificial Reproductive Techniques to other species, too!

Have you visited the baby ray yet?

Ocean Park

The World Famous Playground that Never Sleeps

🌟 Lan Kwai Fong – The World Famous Playground that Never Sleeps🌟 Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) is more than just a nightlife district; it’s a special place that embodies the unique spirit of Hong Kong. Over the past 60 years, LKF has transformed from a quiet alley into a bustling hub that attracts locals, tourists, and celebrities alike, putting Hong Kong on the global map as a premier destination for nightlife and culture.

Timeline of LKF’s Evolution:
🌸 60s: Originally a tranquil area known as “Orchid Square.”
🕺 70s: Opening of Disco Disco sparking the nightlife revolution
🍽️ 80s: Club 97 Opens & Allan Zeman opens California Restaurant and Bar, cornerstones of LKF nightlife.
🎉 1990s: Emergence of iconic venues like KEE Club and Volar.
🐉 2000s: Dragon-i opens, bringing celebrities and the glitterati.
🎶 Today: LKF hosts major events and cultural celebrations, reinforcing its status as a key gathering place.

From Halloween to New Year’s Eve, LKF is where the community comes together to celebrate. Its rich history and inclusive spirit make it a timeless landmark, showcasing the culture and resilience of Hong Kong.

We’re sharing this story as a @hknevernormal, an initiative dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary nature of our city. Follow @hknevernormal for more inspiring stories!

Lan Kwai Fong Group

NOTHING LIKE A BIG, WARM HUMCHUK HUG

Humchuk is here to give all people in Hong Kong a warm, big hug.

Hong Kong illustrator Ricky Luk, who goes by the name Humchuk, abandoned his career in architecture in 2014 and has since then created works inspired by stories from people he meets in Hong Kong.

Known for his iconic character “Mask Man”, he captures the everyday experiences and emotions of ordinary people, transforming conversations into artworks that provide solace, seeking to reveal hidden emotions in typically monochrome, minimalist works. Condensing his stories into short lines accompanied by healing affirmations, his work addresses the cycle of joy and sorrow, meeting and parting. Humchuk encourages his audience to take a renewed look at the meaning of loss and farewells.

See stories of You and I come to life under Humchuk’s brush.

Young Soy is sharing this story as a proud partner of @hknevernormal, an initiative dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary nature of our city. Follow @hknevernormal for more inspiring stories.

Young Soy

Why HongKongers Still Turn to Print

They say print is dead. 📰☠️🪦

At least, that’s the common belief. But in Hong Kong, print isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving.

PostMag, the Sunday magazine of the South China Morning Post, has been a shining example of this for decades.

For many Hong Kongers, reading it is a cherished Sunday ritual—a moment to pause amidst the bustling city.

As Lee Williamson, Executive Director of Specialist Publications, puts it, part of the magazine’s appeal lies in providing a rare moment of stillness in a hyperstimulated world.

“When you read a magazine, it gives you a moment to recentre, where you don’t get a push notification—isn’t that blissful?”

This appreciation for print reflects Hong Kong’s spirit, where the past is celebrated alongside the new.

In a world dominated by screens, do you still read print?

SCMP

「靚仔」

去茶餐廳,你會發現「靚仔」比「鏡仔」更受歡迎。因為白飯喺茶餐廳有個專屬title叫「靚仔」,想當年呢個係侍應間嘅暗號嚟,只係地道香港人都耳熟能詳!聽到「靚仔」出場,個個香港人都知道有飯開!偶像?行埋一邊啦!

呢啲茶餐廳達文西密碼,你又識幾多?

Stitching hope

Empowering Lives Through Handcrafted Leather

Behind every handcrafted piece is a powerful story of empowerment.

Broken Fingers Plus is a social enterprise that’s been collaborating with a Hong Kong sheltered workshop for over 9 years, providing training opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Our hand-stitched leather bags and wallets are more than just beautiful accessories; they’re testaments to talent, resilience, and the transformative power of meaningful work.

Support us in creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to showcase their talents, helping them shine bright in our society.

We’re sharing this story as a proud partner of @hknevernormal, an initiative dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary nature of our city. Follow @hknevernormal for more inspiring stories.

Broken Fingers Plus

The Last Fish Farmer

Did you know that Hong Kong was once a small fishing village? 🐟 🌾

Now a bustling metropolis, there are fewer than 950 fish farms left in the city.

Fung Heung-Lan runs one of the last. She inherited her fish farm from her father-in-law and has spent over fifty years preserving her family’s legacy and local fish farming culture.

Her commitment has even earned her a Spirit of Hong Kong award nomination. How amazing is that?