On Saturday afternoon in Valletta, the capital city of Malta, a group of women dressed in vibrant Chinese costumes, known as Hanfu, delighted both locals and tourists.
The mesmerizing Hanfu show, organized by the China Cultural Center in Malta, featured 23 female volunteers from China, Malta, and Italy walking along Republic Street, holding Chinese-style fans and lanterns to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.
“I love their colors of Hanfu, and the jewelry and hairstyles are also very intricate,” said Noemi Calisto, an Italian student at the University of Malta. Some of her classmates participated in the Hanfu show, so she took many photos of them.
Momo Muller and his wife Rita, a couple from Luxembourg, were enthralled by the beauty of the Hanfu costumes. Muller, who had visited Beijing 15 years ago, is looking forward to revisiting China.
Alexander Ouaknine, a 53-year-old owner of a traditional Maltese silver jewelry shop, told Xinhua that the handmade jewelry with silver wire and the beautiful Chinese traditional outfits are both “a wonderful form of art.”
Charmaine Zammit, an official from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, expressed her long-standing interest in Chinese culture and her appreciation for the opportunity to wear Chinese traditional costume.
For Martina Vella and her friends, students at the University of Malta, it was their first time wearing Hanfu. Vella, studying design, said she would consider incorporating Chinese traditional elements into her future works.
Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, emphasized the warm reception received by the Hanfu show and the significance of cultural exchange between China and the West.
After the show, the China Cultural Center invited people to try Hanfu, practice calligraphy, and make lanterns to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.
In the evening, the Chinese Community Association in Malta hosted a gala at St. Aloysius College, featuring singing, dance, and music performances to celebrate the Spring Festival.
Addressing about 300 attendees at the gala, Peng Yijun, charge d’affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Malta, commended the active role of the Chinese Community Association in promoting traditional Chinese culture and enhancing China-Malta friendship.
