Two Chinese blockbusters, “The Banquet” and “The Curse of Golden Flowers”, featuring Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li respectively, stirred the Oscar stage and China’s film industry at the end of 2006.

Controversial as they are, both films do have one thing worthy of credit: splendid Chinese costumes. The dressing and make-up of Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li is a mirror of Chinese fashion in the prosperous and open Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

Xi’an, the then capital Chang’an, was the Mecca of feminine fashion.