At the 16th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival, there was a beautiful gathering of traditional Chinese clothing Hanfu.

Hanfu, or Han clothing, is the traditional clothing for the Han Chinese ethnic group. And its styles differ according to various Chinese dynasties.

At the festival, visitors in Hanfu could be seen everywhere, and there is a special "Chinese style pavilion" specifically set up to demonstrate this gorgeous clothing.

"In 2018, we found out that the Chinese style has become lifestyle apparel. So last year, we tried to set up a Chinese style pavilion for the first time, and had excellent results," said Cao Zuhao, exhibition secretary of CICAF.

"We also set up a stage in the pavilion. There are Hanfu catwalks and performances every day during the event," he added.

Hanfu culture has been developing rapidly in recent years, and more accepted by the public.

"Six or seven years ago, people didn't understand Hanfu, they saw it as ancient clothing or a stage costume," Huang Qiaoen, founder of Hanfu brand Yuanshanqiao, told CGTN at the festival.

"But now, if you wear it on the street, people know this is Hanfu, our traditional clothing," she said.

Huang first learned about Hanfu when she was in college, majoring in costume design.

"The Hanfu market was not as big as nowadays," she said. "I had some designs in my mind and wanted to wear them. So, I decided to make them myself."

For her, Hanfu is more than just beautiful clothing.

"I think Hanfu interests me because of the Han culture behind it," Huang told CGTN. "The traditional aesthetics affects me in the way I live and the way I think."

"With its growing popularity among youngsters, Hanfu will be promoted more and be normalized, and will be accepted like modern clothing," she said.

Reporter: Guo Meiping

Videographer: Shen Langlang

Video editor: Zhang Chunnan, Guo Meiping

Cover image designer: Chen Yuyang

Project manager: Deng Junfang

Producer: Si Nan

Supervisor: Zhang Shilei