With the sleeves dangling elegantly and the waistband flowing decently in the wind... "Hanfu", the Chinese traditional clothes, is getting popular with more and more people in the moment. People’s silhouettes wearing Hanfu are frequently seen in the streets and alleys of the cities, especially those hot tourist attractions. Some of them are fascinated by the good looks of Hanfu, and some are keen on the profound cultural connotations behind Hanfu.

  Dressed in a flowing long robe adorned with beaded floral embroidery from a bygone era, stylist Xiao Hang looks like she surfaced from a time machine as she strides across the bustling Beijing metro, attracting curious glances and inquisitive questions.

  These historic costumes of the Han ethnic majority are enjoying a renaissance in part because the government is promoting traditional culture.

  Period dramas have also contributed to the surge in interest for traditional Chinese garb -- "The Story of Minglan", a TV series set in the Song Dynasty, garnered more than 400 million viewers in three days when it debuted earlier this year.

  There is no uniform definition of what counts as hanfu since each Han-dominated dynasty had its own style, but the outfits are characterized by loose, flowing robes that drape around the body, with sleeves that hang down to the knees.

  In modern China, the hanfu community spans the gamut: from history enthusiasts to anime fans, to students and even young professionals.

  Yang Jiaming, a high school student in Beijing, wears his outfit under his school uniform.

  "Two-thirds of my wardrobe is hanfu," he said, decked out in a Tang-style beige gown and black boots at a hanfu gathering, adding that his classmates and teachers have been supportive of his style.