TRAVEL / GALLERY
Golden season memories
Beijing Wtown holds a feast of traditional Chinese culture
Published: Oct 22, 2020 04:13 PM

A boat on the river in Beijing Wtown Photo: Chen Xi/GT

 

Autumn, a season of golden colors, is the most comfortable time of year in Beijing. What better way to spend a weekend than dress up in Chinese traditional costumes, walk on bridges over flowing rivers and enjoy the beauty of the falling red maple leaves at an ancient town in the capital?

"Most of the scenes of enchanting red maple leaves can be seen in North China, and this scene of an ancient town surrounded by mountains and rivers seems to be unique to Beijing Wtown [water town]," my travel companion Huang Yanjing told me. 

Her words reminded me of how the ­famous Chinese novelist and dramatist Lao She described this time of year: "Living in North China during the autumn is a necessity. I don't know what heaven looks like, but according to my life experience, the autumn in North China is heaven."

I decided to explore the beauty of this season in Beijing's unique water town.

Built in 2014, Beijing Wtown restores the original appearance of villages during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. At the same time, it was built by imitating water towns like Wuzhen Water Town in East China, giving visitors the feeling they are travelling in East or South China. 

Besides enjoying the beauty of maple leaves all around the water town, one of the most unforgettable activities in Beijing Wtown in October is the second Autumn Leaves Festival, held under the theme "Guofeng" and "Erciyuan" which can be translated as Chinese traditional culture and Japanese ACG (Anime, Comics and Games), and kicked off on October 17. 

Walking along the paths, I saw young people wearing costumes from different Chinese dynasties pass me by, giving me the feeling that I was travelling through time and space back to ancient China. 

On Wangjing Street, several shops had set up stalls on both sides of the road where enthusiastic owners introduced their goods and explained the stories behind the designs to the visitors. 

Buildings in Beijing Wtown Photo: Chen Xi/GT

The commodities they sell are all related to the festival, and include Chinese traditional costumes from various Chinese dynasties, headwear, fans, sandalwood, and cultural goods from famous scenic spots such as the Palace Museum, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. 

I was intrigued by a skincare shop with a banner saying "Fourth generation descendant of the maidservant of Empress Dowager Cixi" from the Qing Dynasty.

One seller named Tingting, who was wearing a costume from that era, told me that the cosmetics they sold originated from the ingredient that Empress Dowager Cixi used in the Qing Dynasty, and their boss was a fourth generation descendent of Cixi's maidservant, leading me to think that this event seems to cover virtually every field of Chinese traditional culture.

Since the event's theme also includes elements of Japanese anime, some interesting products including puzzles, game cards and handmade models from popular Japanese animated films like Slam Dunk, manga and games were also being sold to visitors.

Most of the shops had just opened for the festival, and the goods had to be delivered far from the water town. But when I chatted with the vendors, they were very happy that they had the opportunity to take part in such a "meaningful activity."

Yi An, a young woman in her 20s who sold headwear in one stall, told me that she was very excited to be invited to join the event. She designs and makes all the headwear she sells. Interestingly, some of the headwear is inspired by relics unearthed from ancient tombs, with the most expensive item going for over 2,000 yuan ($299) and is made from butterfly shell imported from the US, she explained. 

This festival seems aimed at young people, as most of those taking part are people from the age of 16 to those in their 20s. Here, I did not see any scenes of bargaining at stalls among the many sophisticated sellers. Everyone is very polite. 

Mo Qingchen, a young owner who mainly sells men's costumes from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), told me that his aim here is not to sell a lot of clothes, but to let more people know about Chinese history and culture. 

Surrounded by people wearing ancient costumes with classical makeup, I felt out of place and had the impulse to rent a costume so I could fit in more with my surroundings.

Unfortunately, when I went into one rental shop, a makeup artist told me they only had two suits left, and everything else had been rented out. She smiled apologetically while helping a young lady with her makeup. 

A makeup artist helps a lady with her makeup in Beijing Wtown. Photo: Chen Xi/GT

Regretting my lack of foresight, I walked to the square where the House Dance Competition and Hanfu Makeup Contest were being held. 

Many young people wearing different styles of Hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic majority, or costumes from Japanese anime were waiting in line to take part in the competition. They danced on the stage full of confidence, making me feel their sense of youth and energy. 

Although most of the participants are young people, some middle-aged and even elderly people also turned up in full costume for the event. There were even some families who all came dressed in Hanfu.

Cui Wei, a 42-year-old man from North China's Tianjin Municipality, told me that he and some of his friends from his Hanfu club had come to take part in the festival. He chose the costume of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the imperial secret police who served the emperors of the Ming Dynasty. 

A boy dressed in the costume of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Beijing Wtown Photo: Chen Xi/GT

It is plain to see that the rise of Hanfu and traditional culture can be ­attributed to the passion of the younger generation and the national and cultural self-confidence brought by the country's rapid development.