On December 10th, our RPL team and African students embarked on a breathtaking cultural journey. This time, we didn’t just learn Chinese—we traveled back over a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty, the most open, vibrant, and powerful era in Chinese history!

The Tang Dynasty was a golden age of global exchange. As the world’s leading superpower, its booming economy and military might attracted people from all over the world to trade and live in China. Most impressively, it was an era of incredible "Girl Power." It produced Wu Zetian, the only female empress in a unified China, and many women held high-ranking government positions. In Tang, talent knew no gender.

International students experiencing Tang Dynasty culture, wearing traditional hanfu and showcasing the diverse and inclusive spirit of ancient China

Our students truly looked the part of Tang royalty:

Sandy wore a magnificent high-bun hairstyle (Dapan Tou), a symbol of high social status. She was adorned with exquisite gold and silver jewelry, topped with a giant peony—the most coveted flower of Tang noblewomen. Back then, some rare blooms were even more valuable than gold!

Ada, Sandy’s daughter, wore adorable traditional children's hair ornaments. Together, they looked like a majestic empress and her cherished little princess who had just stepped out of an ancient painting.

Hugues donned the Hufu (胡服)—a trendy Tang style blending Central Asian design with Chinese silk, perfect for archery and horse riding. With a Chinese longsword by his side, he looked like a gallant guardian protecting the empress.

International students experiencing Tang Dynasty culture, wearing traditional hanfu and showcasing the diverse and inclusive spirit of ancient China

Seeing our international students in these flowing robes reminded us that the Tang spirit of openness and diversity is still alive today.

Inspired by this legendary era? Come join RPL and discover the beauty of Chinese history!

🏮 Chinese Words of the Day

  • · 女皇 (nǚ huáng) – Empress
  • · 胡服 (hú fú) – Hufu (Tang-style attire influenced by Central Asian cultures)
  • · 地位 (dì wèi) – Status / Position
  • · 巾帼英雄 (jīn guó yīng xióng) – Heroine / Remarkable woman
Sentence: 唐朝是一个非常开放的时代。 (táng zhāo shì yí gè fēi cháng kāi fàng de shí dài.) – The Tang Dynasty was a very open era.