During the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday, international visitors in Songjiang, Shanghai, donned cheongsams and Tang suits for a Citywalk, immersing themselves in ancient streets. An Israeli couple at Guangfulin Cultural Park even joked about renewing their vows in Hanfu, highlighting the garment’s global charm.
This trend has exploded on international social media, where Hanfu photo shoots have become a sensation. From a Slavic woman in a pink ruqun (a two-piece Hanfu) at Suzhou’s Humble Administrator’s Garden to a British man in a dragon-patterned robe posing as an ancient emperor in Xi’an, foreign enthusiasts are embracing Hanfu’s elegance. A French blogger even humorously shared her “scholarly” photo series in Shanghai’s Tianzifang.
Businesses are adapting to meet demand: bilingual services, plus-size Hanfu, and even “exclusive looks” like golden hair paint cater to foreign visitors. In Xi’an, at least 30% of Hanfu体验馆 (experience hall) customers are foreigners, with one German blogger capturing his parents in Ming-dynasty wedding attire, noting “beauty knows no borders.”
What fuels this fascination? Foreigners marvel at Hanfu’s intricate embroidery, flowing silhouettes, and ritualistic dressing. As one described, wearing Hanfu feels “more震撼 (shocking) than seeing ancient Chinese costumes in museums”—it’s a tangible connection to Oriental aesthetics and history. For Eliot from France, donning a dark blue zhiju (a long gown) in Xi’an let him “touch the pulse of Han-Tang history.”
This cross-cultural embrace is turning Hanfu from a Chinese tradition into a “global language,” as foreign visitors share their experiences on platforms like Xiaohongshu, proving that fashion can bridge civilizations.
