HANGZHOU—The 2025 Guosi Hanfu Month (国丝汉服月), hosted by the China National Silk Museum, unfolded as a vibrant ode to the artistry of Hanfu (traditional Han attire) and China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Under the theme “Tiangong Nichang” (天工霓裳, Heavenly Craft and Radiant Attire), the month-long event, upgraded from its eight-year run as a festival, blended scholarly discourse, theatrical grandeur, and hands-on cultural immersion.
The opening ceremony spotlighted Hanfu’s evolution from niche passion to cultural phenomenon. Director Ji Xiaofen highlighted plans to expand globally, including a Hanfu-themed event in Astana, Kazakhstan, this June. “Hanfu bridges ancient craftsmanship with modern creativity,” she noted, underscoring its role in reviving national pride.
At the “Elegant Scholars’ Salon” (雅士沙龙), experts tackled pressing topics: digitizing textile preservation, reinventing ICH techniques like Jiaxie (夹缬, resist-dyeing) and Su Embroidery (苏绣) in contemporary fashion, and engaging youth through handicrafts. Parallel sessions, such as the “Yinhan Discourse” (银瀚论道), featured master artisans like Huang Jiecheng demonstrating Hangzhou’s woodblock printing, blending live craftsmanship with philosophical debates on preserving tradition.
A highlight was the exhibition “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future”, which dissected the Tang Dynasty costumes from the hit drama The Lychee of Chang’an (长安的荔枝). Director Cao Dun revealed how historical research informed designs, merging Tang-style silhouettes with ICH techniques. The “Hanfu Night” dazzled with painstaking recreations: one team spent 300 hours reviving Song Dynasty “Yingjin Embroidery” (影金绣), while others fused Jiaoxie (绞缬, tie-dyeing) and brocade weaving into modern interpretations.
Nearby, the “Unlock ICH” game let visitors try Qingshui Simian (清水丝绵, silk-floss stripping) and silk-weaving, transforming them into “artisans for a day.” “It’s magical to see threads become fabric,” remarked a college student, echoing the festival’s mission to make tradition tangible.
As performances of Zhe School Guqin (古琴) music and Lingping Lantern Dance lit up the museum grounds, the event proved that Hanfu is more than attire—it’s a living canvas where China’s past and future intertwine. With over 50,000 attendees, the Guosi Hanfu Month not only celebrated beauty but also stitched a new chapter in cultural revival.