Photo: Weibo

Shanghai Disney Resort said it welcomes visitors wearing hanfu, the Chinese traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, as long as the clothes comply with the guidelines and requirements of its theme park. The remarks came after a visitor shared online that she was stopped at the park's entrance for wearing a dress with the characteristics of hanfu.

The netizen said she was stopped at the entrance to the Shanghai Disneyland because she wore a co-branded dress of Disney brand and a brand of hanfu clothing, according to a report from The Paper.

According to her post, she was wearing a piece of dress for princess Anna, one of the main characters of the Disney animation Frozen, when she was stopped by the security guards at the entrance.

The introduction of the dress displayed at the online store shows that the ensemble of costume composed of a long dress and a loose cloak creates an elegant and graceful look with a touch of traditional charm.

The detailed product introduction of the dress indicates that this dress has obtained official authorization from Disney.

The netizen said she was obliged to buy a sun-proof coat to cover her upper body and register at the park before she was allowed to enter the park.

The post soon stirred a heated discussion on the internet with many netizens expressing concerns over whether such hanfu-style dresses can be worn when visiting Shanghai Disneyland.

According to the notice to visitors of Shanghai Disney Resort, visitors who are 16 or above are not allowed to dress up as characters from animations, movies or comics, except during special events when such kind of dressing-up is explicitly permitted or encouraged at the theme park.

Besides, long clothes that reach the floor are not allowed in the park, either.

The notice also said visitors may be refused entry or asked to leave the park if they dress inappropriately, inelegantly, or if their attire affects the experience of other visitors.

In response to the incident, Shanghai Disney Resort said the visitor eventually entered the park successfully after she adjusted her dressing in accordance with the advice from the park staffers.

According to the park, they require visitors aged 16 or above to avoid wearing clothing that may be confused with Disney characters for the sake of authentic entertainment experience at the theme park. Besides, visitors are not allowed to wear clothes or dress long enough to reach the floor for safety reasons.

The park also welcomes visitors to wear hanfu throughout the year, as long as the attire complies with the park's requirements in its notice to visitors.

According to the report of The Paper, it is not unusual for visitors to wear hanfu at Shanghai Disneyland throughout the year and many visitors have also shared their experiences of wearing hanfu in the park on social media platforms.

Besides, the dress code for entry to the park is not the same for everyone. It is affected by multiple factors such as the visitors' height and their overall makeup and attire.

After the incident stirred controversy on the internet, the netizen hid her post and clarified that the original intention of her post was just to remind other visitors who bought Anna's dress that they'd better bring a jacket or outwear with them if they want to visit the park. She said she had no intention to provoke dispute between Disneyland and hanfu, and she had never said in her post that the dress she wore that provoked the controversy was hanfu, according to The Paper.

Global Times