Last year, a few ladies took photos in Xunpu and shared them online. In the photos, their hair was tied into buns (发髻) and they wore wreaths (花环). There are fresh, plastic or silk flowers worn on the wreaths. The photos were widely spread online. Many tourists started to come to this village. In less than six months, the number of zanhua stores grew from less than 10 to more than 150. Zanhua became a hot topic in China.
The tradition of wearing flowers has a long history, dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Xunpu is a small fishing village. In this area, the main task for women is keeping house while men go fishing. Wearing flowers makes it easier for women to work without being bothered (干扰) by their long hair. They also express their wish for happiness. And the flowers are seen as asymbol (象征) of hope. Xunpu is also famous for its good seafood. When women villagers selltheir seafood at the market, they also put flowers in their hair. This way, buyers can tell them from sellers in nearby villages.
The tradition is also seen at happy events. People wore flowers during outings, festivals and weddings. Villagers send out invitation cards along with flowers. In turn, their women guests wear the flowers to the events.
"Wearing flowers in this life, beautiful in the afterlife."Eye-catching traditional headdressboosts tourism in Xunpu. The growth made villagers happy. That's because it not only keeps the business busy but also helps spread the history and culture behind zanhua headwear. Zanhua became a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
