Love for hanfu binds people together

Living in the city that was once the Tang Dynasty's capital, the Brazilian vlogger expressed his love for Xi'an.

"I'm obsessed with the city wall and different kinds of coffee shops in Xi'an," he said, adding the city has never failed to captivate him.

Positive feedback

Rian's hanfu videos have garnered numerous positive comments from Chinese viewers, which act as a source of inspiration for this hanfu enthusiast to continue his endeavors.

"One day, a Chinese follower messaged me, saying he and his friends have started watching Brazilian TV series because of me," he said.

In the future, this 29-year-old vlogger plans to explore various locations in China and delve into diverse local cultures, particularly those of ethnic groups.

"In addition to creating hanfu videos like before, I intend to showcase more Chinese cultural elements. For example, I want to reveal how traditional costumes are made by Chinese people, and share the historical significance behind the process," he said.

The same passion for hanfu has driven JongMay Urbonya, originally from the United States, to establish her own business with the aim of promoting Chinese dressing.

Born in China, JongMay spent her elementary to high school years in the US before returning to China to pursue a degree in Chinese dance. Since then, she has been living in Beijing for more than 10 years.

In April 2022, she founded a company focusing on promoting traditional Chinese culture through social media videos, inspired by her love for hanfu.

In one of her videos, JongMay gracefully explored the gardens of Beijing's Summer Palace, elegantly dressed in hanfu while indulging in traditional Chinese pastries. In another, she showcased her skills in classical Chinese dance accompanied by an ancient tune in the background.

Recalling her college days, Jong-May said wearing hanfu was seen as a "niche hobby", for which the garments had to be tailor-made. However, today she incorporates hanfu into her wardrobe and is able to conveniently purchase a variety of hanfu costumes online.

She is confident about the international appeal of traditional Chinese culture. "Many Westerners do not have much contact with the Chinese culture. When they do, they think it's gorgeous."

"Even Chinese in the West have said, 'I'm so happy that you are expressing yourself through our culture'," she told Xinhua News Agency.

"Given my love for traditional Chinese culture, it is coming from the bottom of my heart. It's just true love."

The allure of hanfu is not confined to China or the West. In Serbia, a Chinese cultural event held on Sept 23 in the city of Novi Sad garnered significant attention.

Organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Novi Sad, the hanfu cultural event captivated locals who participated in traditional Chinese activities such as the tea ceremony and the ancient game of touhu, also known as pitch-pot, which requires players to throw arrows from a distance into a pot.