On November 13th, Zhengding Ancient City experienced a light rain, adding a poetic and serene atmosphere to the historical site.

Despite the weather, visitors continued to enjoy the Grand View Garden inside Rongguo Mansion, in groups, exploring the scenic area with enthusiasm. In the misty rain, scenes from the "Dream of the Red Chamber" film adaptation played continuously, with guides interacting with tourists. The vibrant umbrellas inside the park contrasted beautifully with the ancient architecture.

Tourists dressed in traditional costumes took photos during a night visit to Yanghe Tower in Zhengding County.

A few kilometers away from the heart of Zhengding Ancient City lies MochenQinghuai Ge, a Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) store located on YanzhaoNandajie(St). Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by walls adorned with various headpieces and a dozen mirrors, while young women dressed in Hanfu receive careful styling guidance from makeup artists. In one corner of the store, a staff member is live-streaming and interacting with online viewers.

Zhang Fan, the store’s operations supervisor, explains that the store’s owner runs two Hanfu shops with a collection of 1,400 sets of traditional attire. The store regularly updates its inventory to keep up with changing aesthetic preferences of tourists. “This store opened in 2017, making it one of the earliest Hanfu shops on this street,” says Zhang. According to rough estimates, the number of Hanfu stores in the ancient city has grown to over 40, contributing to a rise in local rental prices.

Yanzhao Nandajie(St) has become a hotspot for Hanfu stores, with more than ten shops lining the street. Located close to Zhengding's South Gate and near historical landmarks like Guanghui Temple and Yanghe Tower, this area is a popular destination for tourists. The influx of visitors has made it an ideal location for many Hanfu shops. "During the May Day and National Day holidays, we can receive over 200 customers a day. We have 30 makeup artists working together, often staying busy until 2 a.m.," says Zhang Fan.

Walking through the streets of the ancient city, one is likely to encounter young women in Hanfu, their hair styled in traditional hairpins, strolling gracefully with laughter and conversation. The red walls of Longxing Temple and Guanghui Temple often serve as a backdrop for these "ancient costume" enthusiasts, capturing the spirit of the past. Especially as evening falls, and the soft glow of lanterns lights up the night, the red temple walls become a gathering place for these young women in traditional attire. Some cover half their faces shyly, others wave delicate fans, or gently hold orchid flowers. "Click-click-click," the sound of photographers capturing these beautiful moments echoes, preserving the timeless charm of these scenes.

Tourists visiting the Rongguo Mansion scenic area in Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province.

Zhengding, a National Historic and Cultural City, has a history of over 1,600 years. Known for its wealth of cultural heritage, Zhengding is famous for its many historical relics and ancient buildings, including the "Nine Towers, Four Pagodas, Eight Temples, and Twenty-Four Golden Archways." Major attractions include Longxing Temple, Rongguo Mansion, the Zhao Yun Temple, Zhengding City Wall, Guanghui Temple's Hua Pagoda, and the Tianning Temple Lingxiao Pagoda, among many others.

In August this year, Zhengding launched an immersive night tour, "A Dream into the Red Chamber," which quickly captivated visitors, drawing them into a dreamlike world inspired by Dream of the Red Chamber and propelling Rongguo Mansion to even greater fame.

"Ancient style and Chinese trends not only highlight the ancient city's charm, far removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life, but also offer visitors a taste of the rich cultural heritage and lively street scenes of the city," said Wang Sugang, Vice Mayor of Zhengding County and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Culture, Broadcast and Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau. According to Wang, taking advantage of the unique characteristics of the ancient city and its rich cultural resources, Zhengding is tapping into new growth points in the cultural tourism market. The city is leveraging its historical advantages and industry resources to upgrade two key sectors: "Chinese style immersion" and "local specialty cuisine." Notably, Zhengding has been continuously promoting these new cultural tourism experiences by hosting events such as the "Ancient City Tour, Famous County Trip: A Visit to Zhengding" and upgrading the immersive night tour at Rongguo Mansion, helping to foster the growth of the "Chinese style" tourism industry.

The South Gate of Zhengding Ancient City, bathed in the glow of neon lights, reveals the city's charm as people admire the ancient city’s beauty under the night sky.

"Wearing Hanfu, tasting local food, and exploring the ancient city have become new hallmark brands of Zhengding’s cultural tourism," Wang Sugang continued. As of the end of October, Zhengding had welcomed over 50 million visitors this year, with ticket revenue also seeing a significant increase. Looking ahead, Zhengding Ancient City plans to further expand its cultural tourism scene, focusing on "Chinese style" elements to create even more popular cultural tourism products and deepen the development of its cultural tourism industry.

"As we approach the end of the year, we are working hard to create a large-scale immersive performance event called 'Proud Zhengding,' which will bring the city’s cultural landmarks and historical figures to life on stage, allowing visitors to experience the depth and richness of Zhengding's culture. Please stay tuned," Wang said confidently.