During the New Year holidays, my family came to visit us in Beijing.
On the very first day, my husband and I took my mom and my two younger sisters to the Forbidden City.
The real highlight of the day was not just the palace itself, but the experience of dressing up in traditional Chinese-style outfits and wandering around taking photos like we were part of a historical drama (・∀・).
It was colorful, playful, and honestly way more fun than I expected.
Seeing my family laugh, pose, and fully embrace the moment in such a magnificent place made the whole day feel extra special.
It was one of those simple but unforgettable experiences where culture, family, and pure happiness all meet in one frame.
Definitely a New Year memory I will smile about for a long time.
Clear the way. Royal energy detected.
For anyone who’s curious about the details and where to rent traditional Chinese outfits, here’s a little guide from our experience.
We rented our outfits from a shop located near the Forbidden City, which was super convenient for both getting there and returning the costumes afterward. The price was around 170 to 200 yuan per person. You can enter the Forbidden City from the morning and return the outfits before 7 p.m.
The package included makeup and hairstyling, which honestly made the whole experience feel extra special. Since it was winter, the shop also provided inner jackets to help keep us warm, especially for those of us wearing thick winter coats that wouldn’t fit under the rented outfits.
In my case, I wore two layers of my own clothes, plus one inner jacket from the shop, and then the traditional outfit on top. By the end, I was basically wrapped in four layers and round enough to roll across the courtyard 😆.
