Are you traveling to China soon and wondering what the locals wear?
Spoiler alert: these days you can walk down a street in China and see the same kind of clothes as you would back home.
But this doesn’t mean that everything is the same.
There are some unique fads, fashions and trends that only exist in China, and I will share them with you based on my time in the country.
1. Kaidangku
A common sight in China. Image by Jerome-goh-content on Shutterstock.
I have to start with the funniest.
I remember being shocked the first time I saw a mother help her baby squat and poop by the roadside in China.
It was disconcerting and I couldn’t stomach the rest of my milk tea.
But I soon discovered the Chinese baby was wearing what’s known as ‘kaidangku’ (开裆裤), the Mandarin name for split-crotch pants.
It’s a practical invention that’s been around for generations, as funny as it looks.
The pants allow the toddler to go to the toilet without messing their clothes or fussing with buttons or fastenings.
You’re more likely to spot kaidangku-wearing toddlers in smaller cities and rural villages rather than downtown Shanghai.
Chinese parents simply hold their child over a grate in the street, or even a garden bed, to relieve them.
Trust me, the first time you see this you may be grossed out, but you’ll get used to it as you travel around the country.
2. Chinglish tops
Chinese teenagers love English writing on their clothes, even when there are typos. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
Teenagers in China love to wear shirts and sweaters adorned with English writing.
Unfortunately, the writing is translated from Mandarin and often isn’t translated well or is spelled incorrectly.
This is known as Chinglish, and it’s responsible for countless fashion faux pas!
All across China, you’ll see teenagers in clothes with writing that ranges from unintentionally funny to strange or even outright obscene.
The funniest t-shirt I’ve ever seen someone wearing said “FAILED AT HIGH SCHOOL” (yep, it was in big capital letters). It’s not the kind of thing I’d be proud to wear!
If you see some Chinglish clothes while traveling in China, just remember that the owner probably doesn’t fully understand what their clothes are saying.
3. Loose clothing
Something I’ve noticed everywhere I go in China, especially among young people, is that clothing is really loose.
You’ll hardly ever see women in really tight or short clothes like you would in the west.
I’d say it’s got to do with China’s traditionally conservative history and Confucianism.
And, Chinese girls like wearing traditionally feminine clothes – things like lace and delicate fabrics.
In summer, they wear a lot of white, soft pink and pastels, but they tend to have a preference for these kinds of colors year-round.
4. Hanfu
A Chinese couple dressed up in Hanfu (the guy is in drag). Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
Close to popular tourist attractions in big cities like Xi’an, you can pay a few hundred yuan (about US$40) to dress up in Chinese clothing called Hanfu.
It’s decadent, traditional clothing that the Han Chinese wore in dynasties gone by.
Along with a fancy hairdo and a full face of makeup, you basically walk around for a few hours taking photos of you and your friends. Or, you can pay extra for a professional photographer.
Most people who rent these costumes are female teens and those in their 20s.
Having said that, I’ve done it too!
While I was checking out the small, touristy city of Lijiang, in China’s south, I decided to experience it like many of the locals do – in dress-up.
As I was traveling solo, I paid for the photographer to take photos of me, in the famous alleyways of Lijiang as well as inside his studio.
To this point, I haven’t shared the photos publicly – I look that bad!
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Chinese people do not wear traditional clothing like this on a daily basis.
5. Cutesy wear
Over the years, Japan and Korea have become known for some of their extremely cute TV shows, foods, and fashion.
And lots of Chinese teenagers absolutely love these fashions. That’s why you’ll see teenagers wearing sailor outfits, cat ears, sparkly accessories, and all sorts of adorable items.
If teenagers don’t have the things needed to complete their cute look, they’ll simply use one of the countless apps to digitally add things like bows, pigtails and whiskers to their face, and share it with their friends.
6. Same-same
The older Chinese get, the more their clothes look the same. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
Although older Chinese dress in modern clothes, their outfits tend to be modest and often focused on darker colors, especially in winter.
In fact, they look almost as if they’re wearing uniforms, which fits with China’s collectivist culture where no one wants to stand out.
This generation also enjoys wearing foreign brands, although they’re almost always knock-offs.
One thing I found quite strange in China was that hardly anyone wore sunglasses (cosmopolitan Shanghai is the exception).
When the sun’s out, Chinese women prefer to wear frilly sun visors than sunglasses.
Seniors in China also like to cover up from the top of the neck all the way down, with high collared tunics and long everything, no matter the temperature.
You can still find the odd senior man wearing one of the old communist hats. Its quite the sight next to the neon signs and fashionable teenagers!
7. Fancy face masks
Decorative face masks are on trend. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
While face masks are more a healthcare ‘accessory’ than à la mode clothing, I’ve noticed in China there are many people, especially kids, who wear cute face masks when they’re feeling unwell.
The masks are often fabric ones and, from what I’ve seen, are quite stylish with little patterns including animals and polka dots.
This isn’t a thing in Australia, where I’m from.
But let me tell you – there’s nothing cuter than a Chinese toddler wearing a teeny-weeny face mask!
8. Safe swimsuits
The Chinese like to cover up when swimming. Image by PR Image Factory on Shutterstock.
Swimsuits in China are typically more conservative than in western countries.
You’ll see Chinese men in shorts and swimming trunks, usually in dark colors. Hardly any of them wear Speedos.
Parents will put their children in the cutest little swim outfits that you can imagine, often with matching hats and shoes.
And then you have the women’s swimsuits. These are usually more conservative. It’s rare to see bikinis on China’s beaches.
See also: Nice beaches in Shenzhen
Chinese women usually wear the one-piece suits with skirts instead. In fact, when you go to the shops you’ll be stunned at the extensive range of swimsuits in this style and may even want to take a few home with you if you’re a woman.
This fashion for swimsuits with skirts was a bit of a shock to me. You see, I come from Australia, and bathing suits here are either bikinis or a one piece.
Only little girls and elderly women wear swimsuits with skirts in Australia, so it was weird to see the young Chinese women wearing this fashion!
9. Matching outfits
A Chinese couple wearing matching panda jackets. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
I love the trend for matching outfits in China, even though I wouldn’t do it myself.
It’s perfectly acceptable for Chinese lovers, and even friends, to wear the same thing. Or, they’ll wear clothes with a saying across the front that concludes on their partner’s outfit.
To us westerners, this can look a little strange and even comical.
But to Chinese people, it’s a sign of their close bond and a fun way to reflect their allegiance.
And after all, isn’t having fun what fashion is supposed to be all about?
10. Red and special colors
The locals wear red for special occasions like Lunar New Year. Image by Angela Roma on Pexels.
Color is very important in China, and this is often reflected in the outfits chosen for special occasions.
Most of the time of course, people will wear whatever color is in fashion.
However, there are some colors that have deeper meanings and may even be worn on special occasions such as:
- Red for weddings and festivals as it signifies beauty, good fortune, luck and happiness (but the bride often wears white)
- White for funerals (immediate family) and dark colors for everyone else, though funeral customs differ throughout the country
- Almost any bright colors for festivals or special days.
Some colors are also associated with negative meanings, such as green for infidelity, and should be avoided in certain social situations.
See also: Strange Chinese customs
Surprised by what Chinese people wear?
So, what did you think about some of the unique things that Chinese people wear?
Hopefully you’ll spot one or two of these things as you travel around the country.
One piece of advice I would give you about traveling in China is to do as the locals do. Wear what you want in China and if you’re female, avoid wearing tight low-cut tops.
The locals tend to be very forgiving of visitors’ fashion sense, and as long as you don’t reveal too much skin or wear anything too extreme, everything will be fine.
Next, read my article about what you shouldn’t wear in China. It’s an interesting read, especially if you’re heading to China soon.
Main image credit: Shaomin454 on Pixabay.
FAQ about what do Chinese people wear
How do Chinese people dress?
Chinese people wear modern clothes. The kind of fashion depends on the age group, and people in the big cities tend to wear more on-trend clothing. Chinese people are a bit more conservative than westerners, and the women prefer flowy, loose-fitting clothes rather than revealing or tight-fitting garments.
Is there a business dress code in China?
Not really. Chinese office workers and businesspeople generally wear smart, semi-formal kind of clothes in the workplace. For example, a woman might wear a blouse, trousers and low heels, while a man might wear a shirt, trousers and black leather shoes. The men don’t usually wear ties.
What do people wear in Shanghai?
Shanghai is the fashion capital of China, and clothing tends to be more cosmopolitan and westernized than other Chinese cities. People in Shanghai usually wear modern, casual and fairly loose-fitting clothing.
What do people wear in Beijing?
People wear modern, casual clothes in Beijing, though arguably the city is not as fashion-forward as Shanghai. Much of the older generation still clings on to the Mao era in terms of fashion. You’ll see old people wearing tunics and high-collared, buttoned jackets.
Is Chinese clothing fashionable?
It depends who you ask. Generally speaking, Chinese fashion is modern and casual yet fairly safe and conservative.
