The Twenty-Four Solar Terms of Attire: Haipai Culture Qipao Exhibition is being held at the Shanghai Haipai Cultural Center in The Inlet, Hongkou district, featuring qipao designs inspired by seasonal changes.

The exhibition is organized into four seasonal sections: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

The spring section features shades of peach pink, rouge, and cherry white, evoking nature's renewal. The summer section adopts designs in light green, lotus green, and water blue, adorned with patterns of lotus leaves, ripples, and goldfish. The autumn section showcases qipao in wheat yellow, amber, orange gold, and maple red, while the winter section transitions from ivory and pearl gray to deeper shades of charcoal and ink black.

The exhibition presents designs by several brands and organizations, including Manloulan, Jingbo Qinhan, and the Anting Yaoban Cloth Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop.

A highlight of the spring section is Hundred Butterflies (百蝶图), which artfully combines traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy with techniques such as micro crochet, velvet flower making, and embroidery. The design showcases butterflies that extend from the painted surface into three-dimensional space, capturing the essence of spring.

In the autumn section, the spotlight is on the traditional single-piece qipao-making technique. This technique was recognized as part of Qingpu district's intangible cultural heritage in 2023. It uses a single piece of fabric to make an entire garment without joining separate pieces. The qipao on display is made from zhangduan, a traditional Chinese satin fabric known for shifting shades under different lighting conditions.

In the winter section, blue-and-white works made with Yaoban Cloth, commonly known as blue calico, are on display. This traditional textile craft was recognized as part of Shanghai's intangible cultural heritage in 2009 and has a history spanning more than 800 years. Its traditional process involves four main steps: carving a stencil, applying a paste, dyeing, and removing the paste to reveal the pattern.

The exhibition also allows visitors to shop while enjoying the displays. Visitors can scan QR codes to view store information and purchase items.

If you go

When: Through Oct 7

Where: Shanghai Haipai Cultural Center, No 409 Wujin Road, Hongkou district

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Last admission is at 4 pm.

Source: WeChat account of Hongkou district government