Traditional Chinese costumes make a comeback

Hundreds of people wearing traditional Chinese costumes appear at Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui, a convergence of towering modern malls and high-fashion brands.
They are not for time-travel TV dramas. They gather for an activity to promote Chinese clothing and culture, and to enhance people’s national identity and pride.
The 7th International Chinese Costume Festival is held at Hong Kong Cultural Center Piazza, Tsim Sha Tsui, on April 7 and 8. The event includes stage performances, Chinese costume parade, wedding show, Qipao show and costume try-ons. Many people, including foreign tourists, have tried on traditional Chinese costumes and taken pictures against the city’s iconic skyline.
Tiger Lai, chairman of the event’s organizer Fuzi Chamber, a charitable organization dedicated to the promotion of Chinese culture and values in Hong Kong, estimated that more than 2,000 people have joined the events.
“This year, we think we have the most tourists joining our event, especially more and more foreign tourists have joined our event,” said Lai. “In the past, people would come and asked ‘what is this?’ ‘what are you wearing?’ Now some people come and they know they are Chinese costumes.”
Chinese clothing is symbol of a higher civilization and conveys Chinese etiquettes, he said, adding that his organization has been encouraging people to wear traditional costumes on important events, such as wedding and coming-of-age ceremonies, so as to promote them to better understand and respect ancestors and culture.