Location: Chinatown Vancouver | Photographer: Nomad Studio | Content Creator: Saron.Room
Some things just belong together. Mahjong tiles clicking across the table, a delicious Hong Kong-style drink, good company, and the elegance of a cheongsam.
For this special collaboration with Vancouver Mahjong Club at Saan Saan Cafe, we brought these familiar pieces of Hong Kong culture together for a lively evening of mahjong, food and fun.
I had the pleasure of lending my handmade cheongsams to guests for the occasion, giving everyone a chance to dress up and add a little extra character to the evening.
Mahjong Meets Cheongsam
Mahjong and the cheongsam share a special place in Hong Kong's cultural imagination. Both evoke memories of old Hong Kong — lively gatherings, familiar traditions and a distinctive sense of style.
Putting them together felt wonderfully natural. The cheongsams brought colour and elegance to the mahjong tables, while the game itself created a relaxed, playful atmosphere where everyone could mingle and enjoy the evening.
I loved seeing the guests make the cheongsams their own. They weren't simply wearing traditional garments; they were bringing them into a contemporary social setting, creating new memories around something deeply familiar.
Saan Saan Cafe was the perfect setting for this gathering. With its Hong Kong-inspired food and nostalgic atmosphere, it brought another layer of authenticity to the experience.
Between the mahjong games, conversations and shared food, the evening captured the kind of warmth that makes these cultural traditions so enjoyable — not because everything had to be formal or perfectly arranged, but because people came together to have a good time.
For Ping Ting, this collaboration was a reminder that a cheongsam doesn't need to be reserved for weddings or special ceremonies. It can be part of a fun night out, a community gathering or simply an occasion to celebrate personal style and cultural heritage.
I'm grateful to Vancouver Mahjong Club and Saan Saan Cafe for making this collaboration possible. My special shoutouts to Danny at Nomad Studio and Jenn at Saron.Room for capturing the fun memories. Please check out this → reel.
Cheongsams, mahjong and Hong Kong nostalgia — sometimes, the perfect pairing is simply about bringing people together.