Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Rayda, Liu Donglai) news: Quitting a job at the age of 25, going to Xi’an City alone to start a business with less than 30,000 yuan on you, and hiding these things from family... What do you feel about this?
“Exciting,” answed Ma Yue with a joyful tone.
On August 24, 2023, an ethnic Hui girl from Tacheng City, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was interviewed by a reporter of the Xinjiang Daily "Road of Prosperity—Belt and Road Reporting Project" interview team at a Hanfu (traditional clothing of the Chinese Han ethnic group) experience shop in an office building near to the Yongning Gate in Xi’an City, northwest China’s Shannxi Province.
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Photo shows Ma Yue (R) and a customer from Xinjiang, who was the first customer on the opening day of the second Hanfu experience shop. (Photo courtesy of Ma Yue)
Since she was busy in the store, the interview could only be made in her spare time.
“Now is the peak time for tourism, and tourists want to visit Xi’an dressed in Hanfu.” Ma Yue said.
The shop named “Nichang Story” (“Nichang” in Chinese refers to elegant dress) is the first Hanfu experience shop that Ma Yue opened in Xi’an.
In 2018, after graduating from Xinjiang Vocational University, Ma Yue worked at a media company. However, she always wanted to go out and live a full life. In May 2022, she finally made up her mind.
“I tried to tell my parents that I wanted to go to work in other cities in China, but they were adamantly against it, thinking that me, as a girl, should stay close to my parents. What’s more, the other cities I had been to were only Chengdu and Chongqing, and they were all short time visits.
Holding the mindset of just giving it a try, Ma Yue came to Xi'an alone without telling her parents. The city was new to her, but a quint of familiarity was mixed in it for her.
“The weather and foods in Xi’an are similar to those in Xinjiang, and Xinjiang elements such as Xinjiang restaurants and Xinjiang songs and dances are seen everywhere in Xi’an,” Ma Yue said.
With her former media work experience in Urumqi, Ma Yue soon found a job in Xi'an, but the job didn't last long.
“Starting a business without telling my parents, my ultimate aim is to make my own career; however, at the time, I was still figuring out what to do,” said Ma Yue. After a few months, her parents found out about it and reprimanded her. But after learning that she had found a job, they didn’t interfere anymore. “If I told them I wanted to start up a business, they would definitely come to Xi’an from Tacheng to argue against me,” said Ma Yue slyly.
In January, 2023, one of her friends traveled to Xi’an from Xinjiang. Accompanying her friend to experience Hanfu, which has practically been a standard outfit for travelers in Xi’an, Ma Yue found that opening a Hanfu shop was a good choice.
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Photo shows stylists make looks for customers at “Nichang Story” Hanfu experience shop in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of Ma Yue)
After doing some preparation work, such as selecting a storefront, decorating, purchasing clothes, and recruiting stylists, Ma Yue opened her first Hanfu experience shop in Xi’an in April, 2023. She posted short videos on We-media platforms, which have drawn attention and made her business grow quickly.
After a month, Ma Yue prepared for her second shop. “One shop is unable to meet customers’ needs,” she said.
In just over half a year, she opened her third shop, and the girl finally made her own career in Xi’an.
“I was a girl without a special skill, but now I am the owner of three Hanfu experience shops, and my parents used to be resolutely against me, but now they approve of my choice after seeing my achievement. The whole transformation is interesting. As for my shops, they have become a small platform to show Xinjiang to everyone,” Ma Yue said.
Ma Yue said that when customers knew that she came from Xinjiang, they would keep asking her about Xinjiang. “In addition to Hanfu, there are many traditional clothes of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang. When customers try these clothes, I will explain to them about the culture of Xinjiang’s clothes, and they are very interested,” said Ma Yue.
Now, Ma Yue is planning on opening her fourth shop in Xi’an. “This year, I have been growing, and my dream is also changing. And I hope to become a promoter of Xinjiang, and let more people know more about Xinjiang through my efforts,” Ma Yue said.
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