From May 10 to 11, 2025, the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, hosted the grand Guosi Hanfu Month · Tiangong Nichang (天工霓裳), a month-long cultural extravaganza dedicated to revitalizing Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese attire) and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) craftsmanship. This year’s theme, “Heavenly Craft and Radiant Attire,” highlighted the fusion of historical authenticity and modern creativity, drawing over 500,000 online viewers and trending on Weibo.
The event marked the eighth edition of the Guosi Hanfu Festival, now upgraded to a Hanfu Month to expand its global reach. Director Ji Xiaofen emphasized Hanfu’s role in bolstering cultural confidence and its mission to “bring traditional Chinese attire to the world,” notably through collaborations like the “Two Cities Initiative” with Kazakhstan’s National Museum, set to debut in Astana this June.
Central to the festivities was the Hanfu Night, where six research teams showcased painstakingly reconstructed garments. One team revived the Song Dynasty’s “Yingjin Embroidery” (影金绣) after years of research and 300 hours of stitching, while another invested ¥200,000 to recreate ten Tang Dynasty outfits using ICH techniques like Jiaxie (夹缬, resist-dyeing) and Su Embroidery (苏绣) . The Joy of Life (长安的荔枝) TV series team also participated, presenting Tang-style costumes designed with historical accuracy, bridging ancient aesthetics and modern media.
Scholars and ICH masters shared insights at forums like the Elegant Scholars’ Salon and Yinhan Discourse. Topics ranged from digitizing textile preservation to engaging youth in handicrafts. Masters like Sun Yaqing (Wangxingji fan-making) and Huang Jiecheng (Hangzhou woodblock printing) demonstrated their crafts, underscoring the delicate balance between preservation and innovation.
Visitors enjoyed hands-on activities like “Unlock ICH”, where they practiced silk-reeling and weaving, and explored a bustling ICH Market with Hanfu, velvet flowers, and traditional snacks. Evening performances, including Lingping Lantern Dance and Zhe School Guqin (古琴) music, blended visual and auditory splendor.
The museum also signed a memorandum with China Central Television’s production arm to promote silk-based cultural products, signaling Hanfu’s potential as a global fashion trend . As Director Ji urged, “Let Hanfu soar on the wings of modernity,” this event proved that tradition thrives when woven into contemporary life—a lesson resonating far beyond Hangzhou’s silk looms.