Exhibiting a timeless elegance

Li Yingxue

中華優秀傳統文化的創新性傳承與發展，少不了各方的共同努力。文化傳承之路漫漫，我們都有職責讓中華文化“活”起來，讓優秀傳統文化走得更遠、更好。

A new enchanting attraction has emerged along the banks of West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.There, a man and a woman dressed in traditional garments, seemingly transported from ancient China, kindly offer flowers free of charge, presenting an attractive glimpse into the past.

The man, dressed like a man in the Tang Dynasty, carries a bamboo pole adorned with a basket filled with budding lotus flowers.At the other end, an umbrella, lantern and a box for carrying various kinds of goods dangle (懸 擺) gracefully.The woman, dressed in the style of the Song Dynasty, holds a delicate bamboo fan, gracefully wafting it to and fro.A basket full of lotus flowers is decoratively positioned on her back.Videos and photos featuring the pair swiftly gained much attraction on social media, receiving praise from viewers, who found their romantic and classic clothes attractive.

The “Song Dynasty” woman is actually Chen Xiyue, a 22-year-old vlogger specializing in content featuringhanfu.She says, “It is not I who have gained popularity, but rather the traditional Chinese culture itself.”

She was inspired by the flower peddlers of the Song Dynasty and wanted to interact with passers-by, by distributing lotus flowers, and bestowing (贈 予) blessings of good fortune.She remembers that,several times, she asked children to recite ancient poems in exchange for lotus flowers.

“At that moment, I felt the essence of cultural inheritance—the oral tradition deeply existing within Chinese people,passed down through generations.It is through this process that many remarkable traditional cultural practices have been preserved and transmitted,” she says.

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How did Chen Xiyue promote traditional Chinese culture?

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