Chongqing- The inaugural Yangtze International Chinese Costume Art Competition held an opening talent contest for enthusiasts on September 29, when dozens of participants donned traditional outfits beside the iconic riverside Zhangfei Temple in Yunyang County, Chongqing of Southwest China. During this exciting and colorful public event, talented youth performed elegant songs and dance routines in a mid-autumn feast of ancient style.
As nighttime descended, contestants put on various styles of costume originating from ancient dynasties, augmented with exquisite makeup, intricate hairstyles, and graceful accessories like folding fans and replica swords. The combined effect gave the impression they had stepped through time, after which they proceeded to showcase the inheritance of traditional culture through beautiful clothing and graceful moves.
Audiences immersed in oriental charm
Contestants matched elegant traditional dress with folk art, dance, poetry and song at the talent contest to the delight of audiences at home and abroad (Photograph/Official Event Album)
Contestants began the show with individual catwalk appearances to the backdrop of ancient style music, embodying their unique character as graceful dancers, flamboyant nobles, heroic warriors, or suave poets while displaying their talents in folk art, musical instruments, poetry recitation, and ancient song.
On stage before a delighted audience, Yu Jiang adeptly performed an excerpt from the Henan Opera called Red Lantern, with high rhythmic precision that drew impressed sighs from the crowd, while Luo Yang and Xue Hu immersed the venue in legendary oriental charm through sword dances combining both gentle and strong moves.
Later, Qing Yun performed the solo dance ‘Flower Burial’ and wore a long-sleeved Han-style dress among fluttering petals as she re-enacted the poignant love story of Bao Daicha from the classic novel ‘Dream of the Red Chamber.’
The talent contest of the first Yangtze International Chinese Costume Art Competition featured renowned industry experts in the field of Han dress (Photograph/Official Event Album)
Instrumentalist Guo Zili performed the work ‘Listening to Snowfall’ during the individual competition phase, winning unanimous praise from the live panel of judges. "I have studied playing the Chinese lute for half a year and have gained a solid foundation. Since I’m also very interested in Chinese costume, I combined these traditional elements for the show, but didn't expect to receive such warm applause.” Guo later shared.
Important carrier for national civilization
The panel of judges comprised Hanfu experts Xi Zi and Ji Xiangxiang, senior makeup artist Yi Nan, the founder of Guizhou Shuimuge Hanfu Club Lan Cai, and the contracted photographer from Sony named Si Yang. In this high-profile lineup, Lan Cai expressed his wish that more people could understand Chinese styles and pursue aesthetic life through such competitions. “We can only express beauty through clothing if we understand the foundations of traditional culture in China,” Lan added.
A contestant dressed in an ancient warrior costume captivated the audience with graceful moves combining both delicacy and agility (Photograph/Official Event Album)
Members of the public also lavished the event with praise and expressed their pleasant surprise at watching this artistic feast while traveling in Yunyang. One such audience member commented, “I have to say these young people have great talent. The contestants are dressed in exquisite costumes and can perform many different folk arts like song and dance.”
An event organizer explained that traditional clothes and etiquette are two main symbols of Chinese civilization, and important carriers for national history, culture and spirit going back thousands of years. The charm behind this event comes in the gathering between contestants and enthusiasts in Yunyang, who joined together to exhibit the beauty of Chinese traditional culture for citizens over a unique Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday.