Behind the Hanfu frenzy among international tourists in China

BEIJING -- With an increasing number of foreign tourists visiting China, the sight of foreign nationals dressed in Hanfu, a type of traditional Chinese clothing, at scenic spots across the country has become a captivating cultural phenomenon.

By the moat of Beijing's Forbidden City -- the over 600-year-old complex that once served as China's imperial palace -- Jessica Savano, a travel content creator from the United States, wore a phoenix coronet, held a round silk fan and dressed in exquisitely embroidered clothes, posing for photos against a backdrop of red walls and glazed yellow tiles.

"This is a must-do if you ever come to China. I will have these pictures forever. How incredible," Savano said excitedly in her China vlog.

Just like Savano, more and more foreigners are embracing this brand-new way to get immersed in the Chinese culture, sharing their pictures on social media platforms. By June, the #Hanfu hashtag on TikTok had amassed nearly 300,000 videos, fueling a global fascination with traditional Chinese fashion.

In one of these videos, an international student from South Africa shared her ancient-style photoshoot in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province. "I feel like the female lead in a Chinese TV drama," she said. Her video resonated with thousands, drawing nearly 40,000 likes.

Meanwhile, a wave of TikTok influencers have joked in their videos, "Unfortunately, I'll never feel pretty again, because this was my photoshoot in China." The humorous exaggeration underscores a genuine sentiment: these Chinese-style photoshoots often capture what feels like a peak moment of beauty for their subjects.

The comment sections of these videos were flooded with applause from netizens globally. Users complimented the amazing clothes, intricate hairstyles and stunning final results. Many were left with serious wanderlust, commenting, "I wish I could go to China for a photoshoot too!"