Love for hanfu binds people together

Subsequently, he moved to Xi'an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, where Rian discovered a multitude of people donning traditional costumes while exploring historical sites, taking pictures, and shooting short videos.

"My friends told me: 'Rian, just have a try. And what if we make a channel about you dressing up (in hanfu) and let's see where we can go.' So, I began to do the makeup and shot my first video," he recalled.

Encouraged by his friends, he decided to try this experiment and document his experiences. Rian embarked on his first video shoot in 2022, in which he applied makeup and presented himself in a hanfu ensemble on Chinese social media platforms, receiving words of encouragement from several Chinese viewers.

Currently, Rian has more than 15,000 followers on Xiaohongshu, a lifestyle platform popular among Generation Z in China.

"We now have a team of three partners for creating hanfu videos: a producer responsible for researching topics, a cameraman for shooting, and myself as the character," he said.

"Whenever we come across an intriguing subject, we devote several days to conduct research, find the appropriate hanfu style, and then spend three to four days on shooting and editing." Initially, he only had a broad understanding of China's extensive history and profound culture. Now, he has gained a more intricate understanding of Chinese culture.

"Throughout this journey, I have gradually enhanced my knowledge of hanfu and China," he said. "Now, I can distinguish between various hanfu styles from different dynasties, and I particularly adore the Tang Dynasty (618-907)."