In recent years, there has been a surge of “Hanfu Fever” in mainland China, with traditional clothing being incorporated into daily life as a trend. However, a video of a woman wearing Hanfu being denied entry at a security checkpoint in the Shanghai subway has recently gone viral on the internet, sparking heated discussions among netizens.
On April 20th, a woman dressed in Tang Dynasty-style Hanfu released a video complaining that she was stopped by staff while riding the subway in Shanghai and told that wearing “strange and exotic clothing” was not allowed on the subway.
In the video, the woman was seen wearing Hanfu and traditional headwear, being blocked by subway staff at the security checkpoint in Shanghai and unable to board the train immediately. Her companion recorded the incident and expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “This is traditional clothing, we are Chinese… why can’t we take the subway?”
It was reported that the incident occurred at a security checkpoint in a Shanghai subway station. The woman explained that she had just returned from a Hanfu event in Jiading District and hoped the staff could verify, but the security guard still insisted on blocking her. There was a dispute between the two parties at one point. The video did not clarify how the incident was eventually resolved.
After the video was uploaded, it quickly spread on social media platforms and sparked discussions. Some people supported Hanfu as part of Chinese traditional culture and criticized the security guards for being “uncultured,” “overreacting,” or “mistaking Hanfu for kimono.”
Netizen “Lao Feng” stated that after checking online, they did not find any regulations in Shanghai prohibiting people wearing “strange and exotic clothing” from taking the subway.
In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in Hanfu in mainland China. Many bloggers promoting Hanfu online are seen as promoting traditional Chinese culture, which is considered a positive development. Many cities also hold Hanfu events to attract public participation.
Similar incidents have occurred on the Shanghai subway in the past. For example, in 2024, a woman cosplaying a character from “Genshin Impact” (wearing elements of Hanfu) was stopped by security guards when entering the station and was only allowed to pass after the police arrived to verify her identity. The incident became a hot topic at the time.
After the incident was exposed, many netizens called for enhanced cultural training for security guards to avoid mistaking Hanfu for other “strange clothing.”
Some Hanfu enthusiasts expressed that urban tolerance and the common sense and literacy of the staff need to be improved. People may come from different regions, but they should have a basic understanding of history and culture. Not everything should be interfered with, hindering the development of urban life. If Hanfu is scrutinized so strictly, the culture may not be able to be passed down.