A netizen in China recently shared a photo of his ID card, taken while he was dressed in Hanfu, and sparked online discussions after the authorities approved it. However, some advise against wearing unusual clothing for official documents.
The poster, surnamed Chen, shared the photo showcasing him in a sky-blue cross-collar Hanfu with a visible collar and a traditional bun.
Despite the photo only displaying the collar of the Hanfu, Chen recounted that the staff at the Shenzhen photo studio were uncertain whether the image would be accepted for his ID card application.
As a Hanfu enthusiast, Chen expressed delight at having the photo approved through the system.
The post has attracted the attention of other Hanfu lovers, with a commenter from Shenzhen also sharing an ID card photo featuring a red Hanfu.
In response, authorities from the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality recommended that those who wanted to take ID photos in Hanfu visit a registered studio, where they can determine if their photograph meets the system's requirements upon upload.
Since only a portion of the shoulder will be visible in the ID photo, employees of the Changsha Public Security Bureau in Hunan noted that wearing Hanfu for ID photos is acceptable as long as the attire is dark and the collar complies with the necessary standards.
However, an officer from the Chaoyang branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau cautioned about potential challenges when wearing Hanfu for ID photos, despite the absence of an explicit rule.
They added that reflective clothing and certain traditional hairstyles may not be accepted.
(Phoebe Poon)
