Hanfu for men in Xi'an: styles, styling and what to expect

Men usually arrive at a hanfu studio in one of two ways: dragged in by a partner, or quietly curious but unsure what they have signed up for. Either way, the same questions come up — what do men actually wear, is there makeup involved, and will any of it fit? This page answers those straight, based on how men's sessions run at Yunjin Chang'an （云锦长安） Hanfu Experience Hall on Cuihua Road in Xi'an. The short version: men's hanfu is mostly robes, belts and a hair crown, the styling is lighter than you think, and roughly an hour or two later you look like you stepped out of a dynasty painting.

The main men's styles, in plain language

Feiyufu （飞鱼服）, the "flying fish robe". A Ming-dynasty style named for the flying-fish pattern woven or embroidered on the chest — the fish has wings and a dragon-like head, which is why it reads as part uniform, part ceremonial dress. Fitted at the waist with a belt and worn with a black gauze cap or hair crown, it is the sharp, official look: think imperial guard or high-ranking officer. It is the style most men pick for City Wall photos, and it flatters almost every build because the cut is structured rather than flowing.

Yuanlingpao （圆领袍）, the round-collar robe. The everyday formal robe of Tang and Song gentlemen: a long robe with a round collar, side slits for walking and riding, and a belt. In Tang colours — deep red, indigo, ochre — it is the natural men's half of a couples' outfit, and the most comfortable option if you plan to wear it for hours. Scholars, officials and well-off merchants all wore versions of it, so it carries "period gentleman" without looking like a costume uniform.

Daopao （道袍）. A straight, full-length robe with wide sleeves and a cloth sash, associated with scholars and Daoist priests but worn broadly as formal dress in the Ming dynasty. It is the calmest of the three: plain colours, clean lines, nothing flashy. Men who say "I don't want to look like I'm playing dress-up" usually end up happy in a daopao — it reads as dignified rather than decorative, and it pairs well with gardens and temple courtyards.

There are other cuts on the racks — cross-collar robes, half-sleeve jackets for summer, armour-inspired pieces — and staff will steer you based on the photos you want. With 700+ outfits in store, men's styles are a proper section, not an afterthought.

What the styling involves for men

Men's makeup is deliberately understated: a light base so your skin reads evenly in photos, brows tidied and defined, and that is usually it. Nobody is going to hand you a dramatic period look unless you ask for one — tell the artist "natural" and they will keep it there. The real transformation sits on top of your head. Period men's hairstyles are long hair gathered into a topknot, so unless your hair is already long, the stylist fits a wig or hairpiece, shapes the topknot, and finishes it with a hair crown （发冠） or a period cap. It feels odd for the first five minutes and then you forget it is there.

Altogether, a full men's look — outfit, makeup and hair — takes 1–2 hours, the same as any adult styling at the store. Disposable makeup tools are free, and every outfit is washed and disinfected after each wear.

Sizes, height and fit

Hanfu is kind to different body types. Most men's robes wrap or belt closed rather than buttoning to a fixed size, so the same garment adjusts across a range of waists and shoulders. The store stocks men's sizes up to tall, broad builds; if you are over roughly 190 cm, say so when you book and the staff will pull the longest robes first, so you are not trying on things that were never going to reach your ankles. Wear or bring shoes you can walk in — you will be on your feet at photo spots — though period-style shoes can be sorted in store for the full look.

Where men shoot well in Xi'an

The ancient City Wall is the standout for feiyufu and other Ming styles — gate towers, wide ramparts and a lot of open sky suit the uniform-like cut. The Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City after dark flatters Tang round-collar robes, with lantern light doing half the photographer's work. Qujiang Pool Park and the gardens of Tang Paradise （大唐芙蓉园） suit the quieter scholar styles like daopao. And since Yunjin Chang'an sits about 1 km from the Shaanxi History Museum, a morning styling session followed by the museum, then evening photos, makes an easy full day.

What to wear underneath, and what to bring

Very little planning is needed. A plain, light undershirt is comfortable under the robes, and in winter a thermal base layer disappears completely under the outfit — nobody will see it, and you will be glad of it on the City Wall. If you wear glasses, consider contact lenses for the session if you have them: period styling has no place to put modern frames, and most men prefer their photos without glasses anyway. Bring your phone and a small bag for valuables; everything else — outfit, wig, hair crown, accessories — is provided in store. Arrive with a clean face if you can, since makeup goes on in the chair, and shave that morning if you are going for the clean-shaven look discussed below.

Price and booking

Men's styling is one flat rate: ¥188 covers the outfit, makeup and hairstyling, plus a disposable makeup kit — and there are no hidden fees. If you would rather skip the hairstyling, the hat, belt and hand guards that come with the outfit are included as well. A photographer is not included in ¥188. The solo photo package is ¥599: one outfit (men's, women's or children's) from the store's premium ready-to-wear range of 500+ branded outfits — runway/showcase pieces, wedding gowns and armour are not part of this line — custom styling with everything it needs (hair accessories, hairpieces, ornaments, face accessories and lashes all included), quality photography, a disposable makeup kit, shoes and disposable socks. The shoot takes place at one location of your choice: the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City (Datang Everbright City), Ci'en Park or Qinglong Temple. Book ahead and shoes and photography props are included free. You don't move on from any step until you are happy with it, and the package includes 30 digital photo files plus 6 retouched photos; if the photographer takes more, you keep the extras free. You pay on arrival — nothing in advance. To book, call or WhatsApp +86 180 9207 8118 with your date, time and party size; mentioning your height helps the staff set the right sizes aside. We are open every day, 10:00–21:00, at a ground-floor shop in Cuihuali, Cuihua Road, Yanta District, next to the Crystal Orange Hotel — look for the storefront sign 十里红妆阁汉服馆， which is the same store.

FAQ

I've never worn makeup — what actually happens? A light base and defined brows, kept natural for the camera. The bigger change is the wig and hair crown. Say "natural" and the artist keeps it subtle.
Should I shave first? A clean shave photographs cleanest; shave the morning of your session if you are happy to. Short stubble is fine, and a full beard can work with scholar styles — just tell the stylist upfront.
My hair is short or thinning — can I still do it? Yes. Wigs and hairpieces are included in the price and fitted daily; the topknot and hair crown sit on top.
Will it fit me? Very likely. Robes adjust with wraps and sashes, and sizes run to tall, broad builds. Mention your height when booking if you are over ~190 cm.
How much, and is a photographer included? ¥188 per person for the outfit, makeup and hairstyling, plus a disposable makeup kit — no hidden fees. A photographer is separate: the solo photo package is ¥599 all-inclusive, with 30 digital photo files and 6 retouched photos (extra shots included free). A full look takes 1–2 hours.

NAP

Yunjin Chang'an （云锦长安） Hanfu Experience Hall
Ground-floor shop, Cuihuali, Cuihua Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China （陕西省西安市雁塔区翠华路翠华里一层商铺，桔子水晶酒店隔壁十里红妆阁）
Phone / WhatsApp: +86 180 9207 8118
Open daily 10:00–21:00

Related

Hanfu for couples in Xi'an · Hanfu for families & kids in Xi'an · Hanfu for foreigners in Xi'an · Xi'an hanfu price ¥199 explained · English FAQ