I knew it was a non-negotiable for me to do a hanfu (traditional Chinese costume) photoshoot when I visited China again, as ever since I was young, I dreamed of wearing one of those beautiful, flowing dresses I’d seen actresses wear in TV shows and movies. While planning the trip with my dad, we quickly realized the best place for it would be Hengdian World Studios, one of the largest film studios in the world, with multiple parks to choose from as backdrops. More than just a movie set, Hengdian is like a portal back in time, making it the perfect location for my shoot without needing to go out of my way to find the perfect spot.
With grand palaces and meticulously recreated ancient cities, Hengdian is truly ideal for a hanfu photoshoot. Plus, it’s completely normal for tourists to rent the traditional costumes and spend the day exploring the parks while taking photos. If you’re planning a trip to China and want practical tips to make your visit smooth and stress-free, check out The Ultimate China Travel Guide – Essential Tips, where I cover everything from must-have apps and using public transportation to cultural insights and more. In this post, I’ll share my personal hanfu photoshoot experience – how I booked it, chose my outfit, the full hair and makeup process, and what the day was really like.
Where To Book A Hanfu Photoshoot In Hengdian
Again, I’ll admit my dad was a huge help on this trip to China as he already had the experience traveling there, was familiar with the apps, and is fluent in Chinese. And for a place like Hengdian, largely geared toward local tourists, and English isn’t widely spoken, he assisted me in finding a photography studio and communicating with them through WeChat to book my photoshoot about 2 months before we arrived. Even if you don’t speak Chinese, shops seem to be used to working with tourists – just bring a reference photo for the hanfu style or hairstyle you want, as well as have a translation app handy to help with communication if needed.
We had chosen Wobiancao Photography 窝边草摄影 (the link may warn you that it’s not secure because it’s a Chinese website, but it’s fine! Once on the site, just translate the webpage to English). The process was simple – you just reach out to them via WeChat and tell them the date, time, and package you’d like, then pay a deposit of 200 RMB to hold your booking, which goes towards the final amount of the photoshoot. They were pretty communicative and even suggested that we go on a weekday in the morning rather than Friday and weekends, so there are fewer crowds. However, they can only communicate in Chinese.
There are so many places in Hengdian (and elsewhere in China) where you can do a hanfu photoshoot, so don’t worry about needing to find one “just right”. Hanfu photoshoots are already a huge part of Chinese travel culture, just like renting a kimono in Japan or a hanbok in South Korea. Many studios have shot hundreds, if not thousands, of people in traditional costumes, often with multiple photoshoots in one day, spanning different dynasties and styles. So, you are almost always guaranteed amazing photos (but obviously still do your due diligence and check their portfolio and reviews where you can) – and if you don’t like them, a lot of them will retake them until you do.
Costume-rental shops are everywhere in Hengdian, often just outside or near the entrances to the main scenic zones and sometimes even inside the park itself. You can often walk in the same day and rent hanfu, get hair and makeup done, and take photos on the spot. That said, if you know your travel dates or want a specific style, picking your studio in advance is smart – especially in busy seasons – so you can avoid long wait times or missing the outfit you had your eye on.
How To Choose Your Hanfu Style
One of the most fun parts of a hanfu photoshoot is picking your outfit, but it can also feel a little overwhelming since there are so many styles to choose from. Each dynasty has its own silhouette, details, and overall aesthetic – for example, the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) hanfu is more flowing and dramatic, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) tends to be more structured, and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 CE) often features high collars, asymmetrical necklaces, and intricate embroidery.
Personally, I already had a clear idea of the style I wanted for my photoshoot – it had to be long, flowy, and in a color that would stand out. Originally, I considered doing two different dresses, but I didn’t want to spend the entire day just taking photos since my priority was exploring. I made sure to pick one really good outfit and make the best out of it.
The photography studio had a great website with a large portfolio, which made it easy for me to decide which dress I wanted. If you’re unfamiliar with the styles, a good place to start is by searching online for “hanfu photoshoot” or “traditional Chinese costumes”, or even by dynasty, to get some inspiration. Seeing reference photos helps you choose a look that resonates with you and fits the vibe you want for your photos.
For outdoor sets, flowing outfits that aren’t too heavy tend to photograph quite well. Layered or stiff costumes can be harder to move in and may appear bulky on camera. Lighter fabrics, bright or rich colors, and pieces with interesting sleeves and sashes add movement and drama, especially when you’re walking, twirling, or posing among grand architecture. Accessories like belts, hairpieces, or handheld props can also elevate your shots and add a historical touch.
Hanfu Photoshoot Packages And What I Chose
There are a variety of hanfu photoshoot packages that you can choose between – from something as simple as just renting a costume to full-out hair and makeup with multiple costume changes and senior photographers, and an entire crew. Packages with basic makeup can range from 50 to 200 RMB to more than 2,000 RMB, depending on outfit quality, style, and more – but there is definitely a price range for every kind of budget.
At Wobiancao Photography, I opted for the High-End Outdoor Ancient Costume package at 899 RMB, which is about $175 CAD. This includes a 1.5-hour photoshoot with 40 photos that have basic retouching, of which 9 are professionally retouched, plus a chief photographer and two photography assistants, with their admission to the park included. This package also allows you to choose from more than 50 high-end costumes that includes shoes and props, along with hair and makeup services. The main difference between the high-end and standard packages is the range of costume choices and the seniority of the photographers. The price is also an incredible value, especially given everything included. In North America, hiring even a single professional photographer with this level of experience for an hour already costs more than this entire package. Here, you have a dedicated team and the full experience at a fraction of the cost – and you can reshoot if you’re not completely satisfied.
Keep in mind, though, that the price will not include your own ticket to the scenic spot. If you don’t want to go to a paid scenic spot in Hengdian, the photography studio will recommend a free scenic spot for you to shoot. I share a more detailed breakdown of park prices in my blog post, Hengdian World Studios – China’s Hollywood Travel Guide, if you want a truly jaw-dropping backdrop.
My Hanfu Photoshoot Experience From Start To Finish
This is where you’ll get a real sense of what the day is actually like. I’ll walk you through the full process, including how hair and makeup worked, how the photoshoot unfolded, the timing, and what to expect once you’re on set. It’s a smooth system, and they move fast since they know exactly what they’re doing, but there are a few things that you’ll appreciate knowing ahead of time so you’re well-prepared.
Timings
Allocate about 4 hours from start time to the end of the photoshoot to be safe. After that, you can stay in the park and return the costume at the end of the day once you’re done.
Start Time: 8 AM (the earlier the better, since it gets more crowded later on, and multiple people are shooting in the same location as you). I also stayed at a hotel that was less than an 8-minute walk from the costume shop which made it very convenient, so keep convenience in mind if you want to make it easier on yourself especially if you have an early start.
Costume Change: Since I already chose my costume ahead of time, they already had it ready and it took about 5 minutes to change.
Hair And Makeup: Hair and makeup are both done at the same time, and it took a total of about 45 minutes, although they will tell you that it will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Wait For Photography Crew: We must’ve gotten ready faster than expected since I had to wait about 15 to 20 minutes until the photography crew arrived. From there, we walked right across the street to the Qin Palace and immediately started shooting.
Photoshoot: The entire shoot was about 1.5 hours, but during holidays and high season, this may get delayed if it gets too crowded.
Receiving Photos: If you start early like I did, you’ll receive your photos around 8 PM that same night; otherwise, you’ll likely get them by the latest the next day. Then you choose the 9 that you want further edits for, and they will send the files within a few days.
Hair And Makeup Process
Once I changed into my costume, hair and makeup started right away and both were done at the same time. The whole process took 45 minutes as they’re absolute pros at this style, and they work fast because they do it all day, every day. I arrived with no makeup on, just skincare and sunscreen done beforehand, which gave them a clean canvas to work with. I did however, have lash extensions – which was a bit much for this type of shoot since they wanted to remove it – but I preferred it. If you don’t have lash extensions, they will add false lashes regardless but it just won’t be as dramatic. You’ll need to remove all jewelry, including earrings, since modern pieces will ruin the look. They provide all the matching accessories.
Chinese period styling usually leans toward very fair skin, so expect the makeup to be lighter than your usual shade. I asked for a darker base, but they were already using the darkest one they had. I’m already darker for a Chinese person and had just come back from Mexico even more tanned, so the mismatch wasn’t a surprise. They also paint your neck to match, so everything blends. Trust the process – it looks intense up close, but it photographs beautifully once the whole look comes together.
You can request a specific hairstyle, but I let them choose something that matched the outfit. I had hip-length hair at the time of the shoot, and specifically kept it that long because I thought it was enough to work with, but they still added extra pieces and extensions to build the updo. My natural hair is lighter than the jet-black pieces they used, so you could see the difference in person if you looked closely, but in photos it blended perfectly.
During the session, I also found out the outfit I chose was based on the female lead from the drama One And Only (Zhou Sheng Ru Gu), a historical romance known for its forbidden love and tragic ending. They matched my hair, accessories, and proper to her look, which made the whole experience feel even more cinematic.
Tips For Your Shoot From The Photography Studio
- Get plenty of rest the night before. Minimize late-night activities so you’re refreshed in the morning. Using a sleep mask and limiting water intake before bed to help reduce puffiness.
- Come with clean hair. Freshly washed hair gives a polished look and makes styling easier for the team.
- Consider contacts over glasses. Rimmed glasses can show reflections in photos, so contact lenses are usually the better choice if you need vision correction.
- Have reference photos ready. Screenshots of poses, moods, and looks help the team match the style you want without miscommunication.
Locations
We shot at the Qin Palace in Hengdian World Studios, and the team took me to four different spots inside the park. It worked out well because I got to see parts of the palace complex during the shoot before exploring it properly afterward. Since we started early, we had every spot to ourselves. By the time we were leaving, I saw at least four different photoshoots happening in the same corridor I had just used. Each location had a slightly different backdrop, so the final photos all come out with their own look and feel.
If you choose to shoot inside a specific park, remember that you need a valid entrance ticket for that park. The photography studio doesn’t cover that cost. If you don’t want to buy a ticket or don’t have time to enter a park, they’ll take you to one of the free shooting areas instead. The free locations still look great, but shooting inside the parks gives you access to much grander sets and scenery.
Photographer And Crew
Most people only shoot with one photographer, but I chose a higher-end package, so I had a full team with me. And honestly, it made a huge difference, especially with how long the train of my dress was. I actually noticed I was the only person at the time of shooting with such a big crew, but it didn’t feel excessive at all.
The chief photographer focused on directing and shooting while the assistants handled everything else – showing me how to pose, fixing the outfit between shots, touching up my hair and makeup when needed, managing the long train so it always looked perfect, carrying my things, and taking behind-the-scenes clips. My dad still took most of the BTS because he wanted to, but the team would have covered it if he hadn’t been there.
None of them spoke English beyond a few simple words like “very good”, so my dad stepped in to translate when needed. Even with the language barrier, they were great at directing poses and matching the mood of the outfit. They’re very experienced at this, so their sense of angles, posture, and movement was spot on.
The photographer worked fast and didn’t need many shots to get something usable. The whole team was young, but clearly trained and experienced. I genuinely enjoyed working with them and felt the larger crew was worth it for how smooth the shoot went. It made the whole experience feel professional from start to finish.
The Photoshoot Experience
This hanfu photoshoot ended up being one of my favorite experiences in China, and it was better and more fun than I’d thought. The mix of historical setting, the extravagant costume, and seeing how a full photography team works behind the scenes made it feel like I stepped straight into a period drama. It’s not something you can easily recreate anywhere else, and doing it in a place like Hengdian adds an authenticity that a studio just can’t match.
I visited in the middle of October and it was still hot, so bring a small fan or blotting sheets because you will sweat – especially with all the layers you’ll be wearing. If you visit in winter, the studio can give you extra layers so you don’t freeze between shots. Weather matters more than you think. It started pouring 25 minutes into my shoot and we had to wait 15 minutes for the rain to slow down before moving to the next spot. If your dress has a long train like mine, expect it to get soaked. The assistants helped carry the fabric so it didn’t drag, but my shoes still got wet. It’s one of those things you just deal with and keep going. If the costume shoes are uncomfortable, bring a pair of your own to walk in and only switch after shooting.
Chinese studios edit photos differently than North American photographers, so expect a softer, brighter style with more porcelain skin and a douyin look (Chinese version of TikTok, known for their very specific beauty and editing style). It won’t match your everyday appearance or other photoshoots, but it suits the setting and the costume.
If you’re visiting Hengdian or exploring other parts of China, adding a hanfu photoshoot to your trip is absolutely worth it. If this helped you plan, check out my other China guides for routes, planning tips, and places that deserve a spot on your itinerary.