The Zanhuawei (簪花围, "surround with hairpin flowers") is the 1,000-year-old women's tradition of Xunpu Village — fresh fragrant flowers (jasmine, rose, magnolia) braided into concentric rings around a long twist of hair, held together with a silver hairpin. Inscribed on China's national intangible heritage list in 2008. In early 2023 actress Zhao Liying wore one for a fashion shoot; by 2024 Xunpu was receiving 8.5 million visitors a year, almost all of them for the flowers.
Here's what the session actually looks like:
- Arrive at a local studio. Most are run by Xunpu women out of their family homes, with a small waiting room, a hair bench, and a wardrobe rack of traditional Minnan dress. 100–300 CNY depending on complexity.
- Make-up and dress. 30 minutes. The most common costume is a fisherwoman's long blue tunic with silver accessories — accurate to the village tradition rather than the "fairy" aesthetic you'll see elsewhere.
- The hair. 60–90 minutes. The auntie doing your hair has been doing this since she was a girl. She will braid your own hair into a twisted donut, then wind multiple rings of fresh flowers around it — anywhere from 3 to 7 rings, held together with a silver hairpin (zān).
- The shoot. Walk the oyster-shell alleys, the temple courtyard, the pier with the fishing boats. 1–2 hours. Many studios include basic photo edits; higher tiers include a photographer.
Practical: book 1–2 weeks ahead via Xiaohongshu (search "蟳埔 簪花围 预约"). Best weather: October–April (hot summer wilts the flowers). Men and children welcome; all ages wear the flowers in the village. Keep the flowers after — they're yours.