Quanzhou's Flower Hairpins

In the coastal city of Quanzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Fujian Province, where ancient ports once bustled with merchants from across the globe, a delicate tradition blooms: the art of wearing flower hairpins. More than just a decorative accessory, these floral adornments are a living link to Quanzhou’s rich history, blending maritime trade, folk beliefs, and artistic craftsmanship into a tradition that continues to thrive. For travelers exploring China’s cultural landscapes, encountering Quanzhou’s flower hairpins offers a fragrant, colorful glimpse into the city’s soul, adding a unique dimension to their journey through one of China’s most historically significant port cities.

Quanzhou’s flower hairpin tradition is rooted in the city’s role as a major hub on the Maritime Silk Road. For centuries, spices, silks, and exotic goods flowed through its ports, and along with them came floral traditions from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. Over time, these influences merged with local customs, giving rise to a unique style of hair decoration that uses fresh or dried flowers, often combined with intricate metalwork or beads. The flowers chosen—jasmine, osmanthus, chrysanthemum, and orchid, among others—are not just beautiful; they carry symbolic meanings: jasmine represents purity, osmanthus signifies prosperity, and chrysanthemum embodies longevity. This blend of aesthetics and symbolism makes each hairpin a small work of art, reflecting Quanzhou’s history as a melting pot of cultures.

The most iconic practitioners of this tradition are the women of Xunpu, a fishing village on the outskirts of Quanzhou. For generations, Xunpu women have worn their hair in a distinctive bun, adorned with elaborate arrangements of flowers and hairpins, creating a look that is instantly recognizable. The hairstyle, known as “shitouji” (stone hair bun), is formed by wrapping the hair around a base made from red thread and black cloth, resembling a small pagoda—a nod to the village’s maritime temples. Into this bun, women tuck clusters of fresh flowers, often sourced from local markets, along with silver hairpins shaped like phoenixes, butterflies, or flowers, which are passed down through families as heirlooms. This daily ritual is more than a beauty routine; it’s a way of honoring ancestors, expressing identity, and preserving a tradition that has defined Xunpu’s female community for centuries.

For travelers, a visit to Xunpu offers the chance to experience this tradition firsthand. Local women, often dressed in traditional blue jackets and wide black pants, welcome visitors into their homes to help them don the flower hairpins and learn about the custom. Sitting in a courtyard filled with the scent of jasmine, as a Xunpu woman carefully arranges flowers in your hair and secures them with a silver pin, you’ll feel a connection to generations of women who have performed this ritual. It’s a moment of cultural exchange that transcends language, as the act of adorning one’s hair becomes a bridge between visitor and local, offering insight into the values of community, heritage, and pride that shape Xunpu life.

Beyond Xunpu, flower hairpins are a common sight during Quanzhou’s festivals and celebrations, adding bursts of color to the city’s historic streets. During the Lantern Festival, when Quanzhou’s ancient temples and lanes are lit up with lanterns, women and girls wearing flower hairpins gather to watch performances and participate in rituals. The Dragon Boat Festival sees similar scenes, with floral-adorned participants adding a vibrant touch to the rowdy races. Even in daily life, flower markets in Quanzhou’s old town buzz with activity, as vendors sell fresh flowers and hairpins, and locals stop to select blooms for their hair or home altars. These markets are a feast for the senses, with the sight of colorful petals, the sound of haggling, and the sweet aroma of flowers creating an immersive experience that captures the essence of Quanzhou’s daily life.

The craftsmanship behind Quanzhou’s flower hairpins is a tradition that requires skill and patience. Metalworkers in the city’s old quarters create the silver or gold hairpins, using techniques passed down through generations. Some pins are simple and elegant, while others are intricate, featuring filigree work or enamel detailing that reflects Quanzhou’s history of metal craftsmanship, which once supplied goods to markets across Asia. The floral arrangements, too, are a form of art, with women carefully selecting complementary colors and textures to create balanced, eye-catching designs. In workshops around the city, visitors can watch artisans shape metal into delicate hairpins or learn to arrange flowers themselves, gaining appreciation for the time and talent that goes into each piece.

Quanzhou’s flower hairpins also hold spiritual significance, tied to the city’s diverse religious landscape. Quanzhou is home to temples, mosques, and churches, reflecting its history as a place where Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, and folk beliefs coexisted. Flower hairpins are often worn during religious ceremonies: women visiting the Kaiyuan Temple, a historic Buddhist temple in Quanzhou, may adorn their hair with jasmine as an offering of respect, while during Taoist festivals, hairpins shaped like mythical creatures are worn to honor deities. This spiritual connection adds depth to the tradition, showing how it is intertwined with the city’s religious and cultural fabric, much like the way Tibetan clothing reflects Buddhist beliefs in China’s western regions.

In recent years, Quanzhou’s flower hairpin tradition has gained recognition beyond the city, thanks in part to tourism and social media. Younger generations, both in Xunpu and across Quanzhou, are embracing the tradition, incorporating flower hairpins into modern fashion or wearing them at cultural events, ensuring that it remains a living part of the city’s identity. Local designers have also begun creating contemporary versions of the hairpins, using sustainable materials or combining traditional floral elements with modern aesthetics, making them appealing to a wider audience. For travelers, these hairpins make meaningful souvenirs, carrying with them the scent and story of Quanzhou, a reminder of their time in this historic city.

The tradition of flower hairpins in Quanzhou is a microcosm of the city itself—a place where the past and present coexist, where global influences meet local traditions, and where beauty is found in the everyday. As you explore Quanzhou’s ancient streets, visit its historic ports, or marvel at its diverse religious sites, keep an eye out for these floral adornments. They may be worn by an elderly woman tending to a temple, a young girl laughing with friends in a market, or a vendor selling seafood by the harbor. Each sighting is a reminder of Quanzhou’s enduring spirit, a city that has always celebrated life’s beauty, even as it connected the world through trade and culture.

For anyone traveling through China, Quanzhou’s flower hairpins offer more than just a pretty accessory—they offer a way to engage with a culture that values tradition, creativity, and community. Whether you try on a hairpin in Xunpu, watch an artisan craft one in a workshop, or simply admire them on the streets of Quanzhou, you’ll be part of a tradition that has spanned centuries, yet remains as fresh and vibrant as the flowers themselves. In these delicate adornments, you’ll find a piece of Quanzhou’s heart—a fragrant, colorful symbol of a city that continues to enchant travelers with its history, culture, and timeless beauty.