We Rented Hanfu in Xi’an: The Real Cost, Local Reactions, and Whether It Was Worth It

You see Hanfu all over China. I had already spotted it in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beijing, but Xi’an was different. Here, traditional clothing felt less like an occasional photo prop and more like part of the city’s evening rhythm.

We saw women in Tang-style outfits walking along the city wall, groups of friends doing coordinated photoshoots, and small rental shops offering the full transformation: outfit, hair, makeup, and accessories. If you are already planning what to do and eat in Xi’an, renting Hanfu is one of those experiences that is easy to dismiss as touristy until you see how normal it looks on the streets.

I wanted to try it immediately. Getting Z on board took more convincing.

Her concern was specific: shared makeup tools. I understood it. You are sitting in a chair while someone uses brushes and products that have just been used on another customer, and you have no idea how carefully everything is cleaned between appointments.

She agreed eventually. She was glad we did it. The awkward negotiation was worth it. This is what wearing Hanfu in Xi’an was actually like, including the rental process, the awkward negotiation, the attention from locals, and whether I think it was worth doing.

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Renting Hanfu in Xi’an: How the Walk-In Process Works

If you are looking for Hanfu rental in Xi’an, the easiest option is usually to walk into a shop near the main tourist areas and compare the outfits and packages in person. Booking ahead becomes more useful on weekends, public holidays, or when you specifically want a photographer.

We walked into a Hanfu rental shop near the main tourist areas and used a translation app to discuss the price, deposit, return time, and what was included. Before handing over any money, confirm whether the quote covers the outfit, hair, makeup, accessories, and photography. Those are not automatically part of the same package.

We agreed on a price for the evening, paid a deposit, and were given a return time. The whole arrangement was informal, but I still recommend getting the important details written down in the translation app or in a WeChat message. That gives you something to refer back to if the shop gets busy later.

Then we went through the racks with the staff and pulled out several options. The sizing is different from Western sizing, which is a polite way of saying that nothing will fit the way you expect. Try things on, trust the staff, and do not decide based only on how the outfit looks on the hanger.

Option	Best for	What you usually get	Planning level
Walk-in rental	Flexibility and lower commitment	Outfit, with styling depending on the package	Easy
Rental with hair and makeup	The full transformation	Outfit, hairstyle, makeup, and accessories	Moderate
Professional photoshoot	Polished portraits	Styling, photographer, and edited images	Book ahead
Scenic-area package	Convenience	Rental or photoshoot near a major attraction	Check inclusions carefully

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Getting into Hanfu: The Transformation

Once you’ve picked your outfit, you stand there with your arms out and let them do their thing.

Then you sit in the vanity chair and the makeover begins.

The hairstyling was the part that surprised me most. They use extensions and rollers and pins, and they can do a shocking amount of work up there. For Z, they built this elaborate period hairstyle that looked like it took an hour. For me: a huge ponytail. Only available in black (for obvious reasons).

(I have reddish hair. This was not a match. I did not care.)

The makeup included the usual: whitening the skin, dramatic eyeliner, rosy cheeks. You will not look like yourself. That’s the point.

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Exploring Xi’an in Hanfu

Here’s the thing about walking around Xi’an in traditional clothing. People react. The smiles were immediate. People around us pointed, filmed us, and sometimes asked for pictures.. (Not in a weird way. More like “this is fun and I want to show my friends” way.)

Many locals seemed too shy to ask Z for a photo together. But if we asked first – which we started doing after we noticed the pattern – they lit up. They were very happy to take a picture with her. I think the photos became part of their night out.

If you want a Hanfu photoshoot in Xi’an rather than simply taking your own pictures, ask exactly how long the session lasts, how many edited images are included, whether transport is included, and whether accessories cost extra. The photographers around the main attractions know the best backgrounds, but the popular corners can feel crowded and competitive.

Now, the professional photographers. They occupy the best spots in the city. The corners near the Drum Tower, the well-lit archways by the city wall, the scenic stretches of the Muslim Quarter. They’re there with their equipment and their clients, and they’re not leaving. Which means if you’re just taking your own photos, you can’t use those spots. Not because you’re not allowed, but because there’s a production going on that makes it awkward to squeeze in. We took our own pictures in the gaps between occupied locations. Worked fine.

What Surprised Me Most

I expected the outfit to be the main event. It was not. The hair changed the entire look, and the attention from other people changed the experience again. A normal walk through Xi’an became a series of small interactions: people filming from a distance, strangers smiling at us, and locals agreeing to photos once we made the first move.

The other surprise was how much space the professional photographers occupied. If you want perfect photos in the most obvious locations, book a photographer or be prepared to wait. If you are happy with imperfect but more personal photos, moving between the busy setups worked perfectly well for us.

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Is Wearing Hanfu in Xi’an Cultural Appropriation?

This was one of the questions I had before we went, and the short version is that our experience felt like a cultural activity being actively shared with visitors, not something we were taking without permission.

Hanfu rental shops in Xi’an are set up for people to dress, take photos, and walk around the city. Locals also wear Hanfu for photos, events, celebrations, and evenings out. In our case, people smiled, filmed us, and were happy to take photos when we approached them first.

That does not mean every person will react the same way, and it does not give visitors permission to treat historical or religious sites like a private film set. The respectful approach is simple: let the shop staff dress you correctly, ask before taking photos of people, accept a no, avoid blocking busy walkways, and follow any rules at the attraction.

We found the experience welcoming, fun, and more natural than I expected. If you are nervous, treat it as a chance to participate respectfully rather than perform a caricature of Chinese culture.

It’s the equivalent of someone visiting Fort Worth, Texas and putting on cowboy boots and a hat. If you’re worried about this, don’t be. Just be respectful and have fun.

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Hanfu Rental in Xi’an: Cost, Timing, and What to Know

Cost: Our full rental experience cost about ¥300–500 per person, or roughly $40–70 USD at the exchange rate when we visited. Prices vary by shop, outfit, package, and season, so treat this as our experience rather than a guaranteed current rate.

As a planning estimate, basic rental-only options may be priced around ¥100–300 per day, while packages that include hair and makeup can run around ¥150–400. Professional photography is usually separate and can add several hundred yuan. Ask for the total price before you sit down, including accessories, eyelashes, photography, edited images, and the deposit.

Cash and mobile payment were both relevant to our experience, but payment options can vary by shop. If you are relying on Alipay or WeChat Pay, set them up before you arrive. You can also book ahead through Klook if you’d rather skip the walk-in-negotiation. Same experience, just pre-paid.

The biggest difference between Hanfu rental in Xi’an and a full photoshoot package is what happens after you leave the shop. Rental-only gives you the outfit and styling, while a photoshoot package adds a photographer, edited images, and sometimes a fixed route.

Before You Pay:

Ask the shop to confirm these details before the makeover begins:

• The total price in RMB.
• The refundable deposit and what happens if something is damaged.
• The return time and exact return location.
• Whether hair, makeup, eyelashes, accessories, and shoes are included.
• Whether photography is included or charged separately.
• How many edited photos you will receive.
• Whether extra accessories or retouching cost more.

Time: Give yourself a couple of hours for the full process — picking the outfit, getting dressed, the makeover, and then time to walk around and take photos.

What to Wear Under Hanfu:

Wear simple, comfortable base layers. Avoid bulky clothing, bright colors that may show through thin fabric, and shoes that are difficult to walk in. In summer, layered synthetic fabric becomes hot quickly, especially once the hairstyle and makeup are finished. In winter, ask whether the shop has a cloak or outer layer that can be worn over the outfit.

Comfortable shoes matter more than they seem. You may spend hours walking on stone paving, climbing steps, and stopping for photos, and long sleeves and skirts make quick movement less convenient than usual.

Return: You bring the outfit back by the agreed time and get your deposit back. Simple.

Makeup concern: If you’re worried about shared tools, bring your own basics: foundation, lipstick, whatever matters to you. The shop will work with what you have.

Pro tip: Ask locals for photos before they ask you. They’re nervous about bothering you. Make the first move and you’ll both leave happy.

Is Hanfu Rental in Xi’an Worth It?

Yes, if you enjoy interactive travel and do not mind attracting attention. The outfit itself is fun, but the best part was walking through Xi’an and seeing the city react to us. Z’s elaborate hairstyle, my completely wrong black ponytail, the strangers asking for photos, and the professional photographers competing for the same backgrounds all became part of the experience.

If you are wondering whether Hanfu in Xi’an is worth adding to your itinerary, my answer is yes, especially if you want a more interactive experience than simply visiting another attraction. I would do it again. I would bring a few of my own makeup products, confirm the full price before starting, and choose a return time that leaves more room for photos. If you only want a quick picture, a short rental near a major attraction may be enough. If you want the full transformation, allow several hours and plan your evening around it.

If you are building a China itinerary around Xi’an, start with my practical guides to where to stay, what to eat, and how to handle transport, payments, and translation apps.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hanfu Dress

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