China/ When the floral hairstyles of the Chinese village Xunpu boost local tourism

Once worn by the women of Xunpu to distinguish themselves from other market traders, flower-adorned headdresses, symbols of blessing, are now reinventing the economy of this fishing village in China's Fujian province.

Peonies, lilies, camellias and chrysanthemums... In Xunpu, a small seaside village in Fujian province, southeast China, flowers are not just seasonal ornaments. They are worn on the head, in floral crowns called "zanhua " (簪花 ) or "zanhuawei" (簪花围 ), reports the daily China Daily.

This tradition dates back to the Tang (618-907) and Yuan (1206-1368) dynasties, when it is said to have been introduced by Arab merchants, observes the bimonthly The World of Chinese. Writings from the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) mention that women in the kingdom of Nanyue "wore wreaths of braided jasmine to make themselves beautiful", the English-language magazine maintains.

"Wearing floral accessories [...] has been a traditional practice and mode of cultural expression for the women of Xunpu for over eight hundred years", China Daily points out. The English-language title details a meticulous ritual: "First they make a bun, which they tie with a red ribbon and secure with a large hairpin, then they embellish it with garlands of fresh flowers. " Over time, the choice of flowers expanded to include tulips, carnations and even silk flowers.

Even today, it's the women who take the reins of the local economy. According to the village authorities, women account for 90% of the workforce in the cultural tourism sector, and receive 90% of the income generated by this activity.

A woman's art

Thirtysomething Huang Liyong has opened a headdress-making, make-up and photography workshop, where she creates versions of headdresses adapted to modern hair styles. "Trying to preserve tradition at all costs", she has acted as a bridge between young people, uninterested at first, and village elders, notably through her publications on the Chinese social network Xiaohongshu.

Another entrepreneur, Huang Yue, has opened a studio where visitors can create their own headdresses, apply make-up and have their photos taken in traditional costume. "We want to offer our customers something typically traditional, with these headdresses made from scratch to accompany traditional costumes," she explains to China Daily. At peak times, her workshop can accommodate up to 100 customers a day for a session costing between 300 and 400 yuan (between 39 and 52 euros).

Over 7 million visitors

These initiatives are transforming the face of Xunpu. During the National Day celebrations in October, the village welcomed 430,000 visitors, more than double the number for the same period the previous year. November saw the arrival of over 7 million visitors. Last year, the village welcomed an average of 50,000 visitors a day during the vacations, with total annual revenue exceeding 600 million yuan, or around 78 million euros.

Themed workshops, often focusing on floral hairstyles, are multiplying: over 200 photography studios have been set up, according to local authorities. " Whereas I used to welcome just ten or so tourists a month to my studio, now I get over 500 a day," boasts Huang Liyong in China Daily.

Listed as part of China's intangible cultural heritage since 2008, Xunpu's tradition of flowery hairstyles is attracting more and more young people, eager to "learn more about this culture".

Source: www.courrierinternational.com/