On the evening of May 21, with the grand finale of the water screen light show, the "First Jiaozuo Hanfu Anime Culture Week," jointly organized by the People's Government of Jiefang District, the China Five Thousand Years Animation Culture Project Promotion Association, and the People's Daily Cartoon Supplement, came to a successful close at Jiaozuo Film and Television City. Over the five-day event, nearly 100,000 visitors enjoyed this cultural feast, while more than 130 mainstream and online media outlets covered the event, keeping the excitement and discussions about the culture week going strong.
The conclusion is not the end — the charm of Han culture lingers on.
During the culture week,
which performances left a lasting impression?
Which highlights were widely praised?
Which "Easter eggs" remain undiscovered?
And what expectations are yet to be fulfilled?
Now, let’s follow these keywords
to relive those memorable moments.
Keyword One Awe-Inspiring
During the culture week, the Three Sovereigns Worship Ceremony was performed daily in the morning at the film city. Accompanied by ritual music and drumbeats, formations dressed in Hanfu — including the Banner Squad, Feather Squad, Han Style Squad, and Tang Rhyme Squad — emerged in sequence from the east and west palace gates, slowly proceeding toward the central altar of the square. The altar was adorned with offerings of grain, livestock, flowers, and seasonal delicacies, while dragon flags fluttered fiercely along both sides of the pathway. With over a hundred participants enacting the scene live and visitors watching up close, the grand ceremony left the entire audience in awe.
In addition to the Three Sovereigns Worship Ceremony, the building light sculptures and water screen light shows performed each evening, with their vibrant colors, dynamic lighting, and highly impactful visuals, also treated visitors to an unforgettable spectacle of light and shadow.
Keyword Two Eye-Catching
During the culture week, many took to the streets dressed in Hanfu, with flowing ribbons and an ancient charm.
Inside the film city, staff members in Hanfu were just a small part of the picture — most attendees came dressed in Hanfu spontaneously because they loved it. These Hanfu enthusiasts wore either elaborate Qi Pao-style dresses or flowing open-front robes, in shades of moon-white, apricot-yellow, vermilion, and light blue... They looked as if they had stepped out of a painting, with the beauty and elegance of Hanfu shining through every gesture. Together, they formed a delightful and pleasing sight.
The beautiful stage settings, elaborate program arrangements, and youthful appearances also made the stage performances a major highlight of the culture week. These performances included Hanfu fashion shows showcasing ancient attire in panoramic views, traditional Chinese-style song and dance performances favored by young people, as well as period dramas that left visitors thoroughly entertained and visually satisfied.
Keyword Three Integration
The terms "First" and "Jiaozuo" became hot topics frequently mentioned by local residents and media during the culture week. According to a staff member of the China Five Thousand Years Animation Culture Project Promotion Association, one of the organizers, Jiaozuo boasts a profound historical and cultural heritage that aligns perfectly with the theme of the culture week. During the planning process, they researched extensively into Jiaozuo’s historical and cultural texts, specially visited the five-tier painted pottery granary towers unearthed in Jiaozuo, and incorporated distinctive local elements such as Tai Chi, the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, and the pottery granary towers into the design of the logo, promotional graphics, and program concepts. This helped create a unique cultural IP, which was ultimately presented flawlessly to visitors.
In addition, the building light sculptures and water screen light shows, which deeply integrated light and shadow technology with the actual scenery of the scenic area, also allowed visitors to appreciate the beauty of the fusion between tradition and modernity, classicism and technology.
Keyword Four Anticipation
Over five days, the event welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors, with clicks and attention reaching over 6 million. Comments such as "amazing," "fun," "not enough," and "want to come again" poured in... The general public is full of anticipation for the next Hanfu Anime Culture Week.
Ms. Liu, a local resident, said: "Restoring cultural confidence is not just empty talk. Judging by these young people’s love for traditional lifestyles, I think there is great hope. This Hanfu Culture Festival was very lively, and I hope it will be held annually, with the scale expanded even further. It should become a better platform for interactive experiences of traditional culture, providing more innovative practices to promote the integrated development of culture and tourism, enhance cultural confidence, and help Jiaozuo build a culturally distinctive and charming city."