Hong Kong entertainment idol Nicholas Tse Ting-fung has notched up a new claim to fame as a lucky charm in the face of extreme weather.
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When Super Typhoon Ragasa approached Hong Kong and southern China, residents found a new way to protect themselves, attaching a picture of the star to their exposed windows.
The reason? In Cantonese and Mandarin, Tse’s name sounds like a phrase meaning “thanks for stopping the wind”, Jimu News reported.
As a result, as well as using adhesive tape to criss-cross the windows for protection, many people also stuck printed copies of Tse’s picture as an amulet or lucky charm.
The 45-year-old Tse is a popular actor, singer and actor-turned-celebrity chef in China.
Even Tse himself recognised the typhoon-fighting viral wordplay.
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During his concert in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on September 21, days before the arrival of the typhoon, it rained heavily.
Tse, who did not use an umbrella or wear a raincoat while performing, told his audiences: “It is a pity my name is Xie Tingfeng, not Xie Tingyu (meaning ‘thanks for stopping the rain’).”