Models present Hanfu on the stage during a Hanfu launch event held at a digital economy industrial park in Caoxian County, east China's Shandong Province, April 10, 2025. Caoxian County in Shandong Prvince has leveraged its e-commerce foundation to build itself into a global center for Hanfu, China's traditional attire. The county has built a complete industrial chain spanning design, manufacturing, copyright protection, and digital marketing.

The Hanfu made here, notably the horse-face skirt, or Mamianqun, gained international recognition through appearances at the Chinese clothing design competitions and Milan Fashion Week. Theses clothes have been exported to Australia, Canada, and the EU, generating 12 billion yuan (about 1.6 billion US dollars) in total sales in 2024.

Fueled by youth-driven cultural revival, the thriving Hanfu industry of Caoxian County is an example of the successful integration of traditional heritage and digital innovation. It not only transforms the ancient aesthetics into symbols of modern Chinese identity on the global stage but also serves as a new engine for increasing the income of local people and promoting rural revitalization. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)