05/06/2026
So, I just got back from 3 weeks holiday in China with hubby.
This is me in disguise... 😎🤓🥸
Dressing up in Hanfu in the ancient city of Pingyao. Hubby was NOT keen to join in 😂 but he was happy to come along and video. Bless ya darling ❤️
I didn't see any other tourists doing this, but I had seen a couple online before we went, which is what gave me the idea.
I have to say, this was two hours of fun!!! 😄
There was at least half an hour of makeup, another half hour doing my hair (bye bye greys 👋🤣), then dressing up (in "fat clothes" and tying my skirt around my thighs so it was long enough 😅🤣😂).
Oh, and the tiny shoes... they only just fitted on my toes for the photos 😬😬😬
Then came about half an hour with the photographer. Afterwards I got to choose seven photos, which were then edited by a separate editor.
All up, it cost about NZ$45 😬😬
The photographer was an absolute professional. He knew exactly what he was doing with posing and lighting. The young girl who helped me get dressed came along as an interpreter because she had "a few English words." She was a lot of fun and I was so grateful to have her join us.
The photographer knew how to pose everything. From the position of my body, to my pinky finger, to the tilt of my head — every detail mattered. I was genuinely impressed.
The editor was... interesting... 😂
He slimmed my face, slimmed my body, removed my double chin, and somehow managed to take at least a decade off my age. He smoothed my skin, softened every wrinkle, and transformed me into a younger, whiter, Chinese version of myself.
I think my eyes are bigger too? 🤔😂
What surprised me most was that I got copies of all the photos, not just the edited ones. That meant I could have a play with editing some myself.
So here's the comparison...
🇨🇳 The professionally edited Chinese version
vs
🇳🇿 My edited version of myself 😉📸
---
DRESSING UP IN HANFU — THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND OUT 📚🇨🇳
We had to Google almost EVERYTHING we did in China to understand what we were looking at, what we were doing, and why it mattered.
So... this is what we found out.
"Not all of the outfits people call Hanfu are technically historical Hanfu.
Hanfu is a modern term used for clothing inspired by the traditional dress of the Han Chinese before the Qing Dynasty. Within Hanfu there are many different styles inspired by different periods of Chinese history, including the Tang, Song and Ming dynasties.
Some people wear historically inspired Hanfu, while others choose outfits influenced by Chinese dramas, fantasy themes, modern fashion, or a mix of all three.
The popularity of dressing up in Hanfu and other traditional-style clothing has grown rapidly in recent years, especially among young people. Many people hire outfits, have their hair and makeup professionally done, and book photographers."
We saw people doing exactly that everywhere we went. Groups of friends, mothers and daughters, young couples, and even groups of seniors wandering around together, laughing, chatting, and having photos taken.
Honestly, it felt a bit like a girls' day out! 😄
So while I still can't tell the different styles apart, it was fascinating to see how many people were enjoying and celebrating Chinese culture in their own way.
And yes... after all that research, I'm still not entirely sure what style I was wearing! 😂
