Families in silk robes wandered past blooming tulips. A child tugged at her mother’s sleeve, pointing at a vendor selling flower-shaped pastries. Nearby, teenagers kicked a leather ball across a grassy field—an ancient game called Cuju (蹴鞠), revived for the afternoon.
This was the sixth annual Hua Zhao (花朝) Hanfu Festival at Beijing World Flower Garden. Over 15,000 tulips and 40 varieties of rhododendrons framed the scene. But the real draw was the crowd itself: hundreds dressed in Song dynasty gowns, Ming-style jackets, and Tang flowing skirts.
Instead of cash, visitors used “flower coins”—paper notes modeled after Song currency. Kids earned coins by helping at mock workshops or performing on a small stage. One girl collected twelve stamps on a map and proudly declared herself a “Hua Zhao Order Master.” Her reward? A calligraphy scroll and a free snack.
The main stage hosted a wedding reenactment. A couple in phoenix crowns and crimson robes bowed to each other. Tourists clapped as the groom recited ancient vows. Later, children lined up for a “first writing” ceremony, where teachers dabbed red ink on their foreheads—a traditional blessing for wisdom.
At the Han-style market, a man dressed as a flower seller shouted in rhythmic rhymes. He sold osmanthus cakes wrapped in lotus leaves. A grandmother taught passersby how to kick a feathered shuttlecock. No one looked at their phones.
The festival runs through April 6. No tickets remain online, but organizers say walk-ins are welcome. Bring comfortable shoes—and maybe a hairpin. You’ll want to blend in.