Xi’an Hanfu Experience: How to Dress Up Like a Tang Princess

Walk through Xi’an’s Grand Tang Everbright City at night and you won’t believe your eyes: thousands of people in flowing silk robes, towering hairpins, and radiant makeup strolling beneath lanterns like they’ve stepped straight out of 700 AD. This is the hanfu experience, and Xi’an — the capital of China’s Tang Dynasty (618–907) — is the undisputed epicenter of it. If you’re planning to visit China, dressing up in hanfu here is arguably the single most cinematic thing you can do.

Here’s everything you need to plan your own Tang-princess (or Tang-scholar) transformation, from rental costs to the best photo spots.

Why Xi’an is China’s hanfu capital

Xi’an isn’t just any old city for traditional dress — it has built an entire economy around it. In 2024, the city counted 1,814 hanfu-related enterprises, making it the leading city in the country for hanfu experiences, according to China Daily. Walk the streets and you’ll see everyone from schoolgirls to grandparents dressed head-to-toe in traditional robes.

The real star is the Grand Tang Everbright City (大唐不夜城) — a 3-kilometer, Tang-style pedestrian street anchored by the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. By night it transforms into an open-air “time-travel” set: lanterns hang like stars, performers in costume fill the plazas, and the whole place becomes one giant, photogenic hanfu runway. It’s free to enter, and locals insist you should arrive after 7 PM when every light is on.

What it costs: rental, makeup, and photography

Budget-wise, hanfu in Xi’an is remarkably affordable compared to the results. Expect three layers of investment:

These are consistent across Trip.com travel guides, Klook, and GetYourGuide’s English-language photo shoots, so the numbers are reliable for planning.

The affordable spots tend to cluster near the Bell Tower and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, while more elaborate boutiques line the Everbright City itself. If you’re a serious collector of the look, book in advance — holiday weekends fill up and the popular time slots (roughly 10:00–14:00) go fast.

Pro tips to save money and avoid regret:

• Go early (many shops open around 9:30) for the biggest choice of styles.
• Some travelers recommend bringing your own hanfu, but most guides advise the opposite — professional hair and makeup is genuinely hard to DIY well.
• Budget about 3 hours total for the transformation: roughly an hour of makeup, 45 minutes of hair, and 30 minutes of dressing.

Where to photograph: the top spots

Not all of the Everbright City photographs the same. From Trip.com’s insider night-tour guides, these are the spots travelers rate highest:

• Zhenguan Square — the middle of the Everbright City, where you can capture a full-body shot with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda glowing behind you.
• Tang Style Corridor, Kaiyuan Square — red lanterns overhead make this the most atmospheric stretch for portraits.
• The smaller side alleys on both edges of the Everbright City — less crowded, perfect for close-ups.
• The City Wall and Bell Tower — if you have time to extend your shoot, these classic Xi’an landmarks offer a different, more architectural backdrop with dramatic night lighting.

For photographs at night, one insider trick matters more than anything: bring a small portable fill light. Night shots with professional gear look great, but for phone photos a $15 fill light is the difference between glow-in-the-dark and washed-out.

Plan your full hanfu day

To make the most of it, structure your day like this:

1. Morning (9:30–12:00): Arrive at your rental shop early, pick the robe, and get the full makeup + hair transformation.
2. Afternoon (12:30–17:00): Shoot the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Ci’en Temple while daylight is kind to the photos.
3. Early evening (17:30–18:30): Grab snacks at the Everbright City’s Tang-style market.
4. Night (19:00–22:00): The golden hour for photography — the lanterns come on, performances start, and the street fills with fellow hanfu travelers. Plan for peak crowds on weekends (up to 40% fewer visitors Sunday–Thursday, per guides).

Want more of the Tang world? The immersive “The Longest Day in Chang’an” theme district is a strong add-on — booking via its official mini-program 1–3 days ahead secures the show packages you actually want. Inside the park, in-house rentals run about ¥50–200/hour including makeup, with themed performances like the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat Dance.

Choosing your style: which dynasty?

The most popular Xi’an rental by far is Tang style — the bold, chest-high qixiong ruqun silhouette that defines the city’s “Tang princess” look. But shops also carry Ming-style robes (think the elegant high-collared horse-face skirt) and flattering options for men and children.

The rise of hanfu you’ll see on these streets is part of a genuine cultural revival — the same wave driving China’s booming guochao fashion movement. If you want to understand exactly what you’re wearing, read up on the history of the robe before you go. And since hanfu is the perfect entry point to seeing China through living heritage — not just static monuments — you’ll find more on the culture-hopping approach in our IP pilgrimage guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a hanfu experience cost in Xi’an? A full package — hanfu rental, makeup, and hair styling — costs about ¥200–300 (roughly $30–45). Adding a professional photographer brings the total to about ¥500–800 for an evening shoot. Basic robe-only rentals start around ¥50–100.

Do I need to book hanfu in advance? Dress-up studios and tour packages are widely available same-day, but it’s smart to book ahead during holidays and weekends, when popular time slots (10:00–14:00) and the best costumes sell out.

Can foreigners wear hanfu? Absolutely. Hanfu is a celebration of Chinese culture, and visitors dressing up is warmly welcomed — local families, students, and tourists all join in. Some studios even offer English-speaking photographers and guides.

What’s the best time of day for photos? After 7 PM, when the Grand Tang Everbright City’s lanterns are fully lit. This is also prime performance time. For fewer crowds, go Sunday–Thursday.

Is the Grand Tang Everbright City free? Yes, the pedestrian street is free to enter and stroll. Certain ticketed shows and the immersive themed districts require paid tickets.

Sources

• Revival of a long-gone dress code — China Daily
• Xi’an: Wearing Hanfu in the Grand Tang Everbright City — Trip.com
• Lantern Walk in Chang’an: Datang Everbright City Night Tour Guide — Trip.com
• The Longest Day in Chang’an Theme District Guide — Trip.com
• Xi’an Hanfu Cultural Experience Hall — Klook
• Xi’an Hanfu and Tang Dynasty Costume Photo Shoot — GetYourGuide