Flower crowns light up festive spirit in Quanzhou

At Xunpu Village in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, women adorned with vibrant floral crowns – known as zanhuawei – are a distinctive sight. This unique tradition of wearing fresh flowers, rooted in local maritime culture, has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item and has become a cultural emblem of the village.

As Spring Festival approaches and spring itself draws near, the coastal village is filled with a festive atmosphere. Xunpu, a fishing community centered on marine harvesting and tidal-flat aquaculture, is home to the "Xunpu women," local fisherwomen whose iconic hairstyle features a round bun secured with a horizontal hairpin and encircled by a crown of seasonal blossoms. Crafted from delicate flowers in colors like red, yellow, white and purple, the floral wreaths form a vivid halo that symbolizes beauty, tradition and the rhythm of coastal life.

Today, the flower crowns of Xunpu women not only preserve an age-old cultural practice but also bring a splash of color and celebration to the Spring Festival season, offering a living expression of China's intangible cultural heritage and the enduring charm of maritime folk traditions.