Channeling My Inner Mulan in Lijiang

Before my China trip, I spent a good amount of time scrolling through RedNote (小红书), looking for traditional dress rental and photography studios in Lijiang. Yang Hua Xiu Team Vision was one of the first that caught my eye. I believe they’re best known for their equestrian photography. They offer several different concepts, but I’d say their most popular is the tribal-inspired equestrian look. Think wild warrior women, leather and primitive-inspired outfits, and dramatic poses with horses.

As interesting as that concept looked, I wanted something that featured more traditional Chinese clothing, especially hanfu. So I eventually chose a concept called “The Princess of the Fallen Kingdom” which already sounds like the title of a Chinese period drama, hehe.

Booking

I reached out to the studio on RedNote, and we continued our conversation on WeChat, where they sent me a list of photography packages and concepts. Once I decided on the package and outfit I wanted, they asked me to choose a time slot for the photoshoot. I went with the afternoon so it wouldn’t be too hot, and they also said the light would be softer then.

They asked for a 500-yuan deposit, which I paid through Alipay. The package I selected cost 2,500 yuan in total. Yes, quite pricey compared to other photo studios. But I don’t like paying for photos only to end up with subpar results, and honestly, they already had me at the majestic Friesian horse.

The Day Before the Photoshoot

The studio sent me a reminder the day before, along with a list of things I needed to do to prepare. Basically, you need to wash your hair and try to avoid using conditioner, shave, and moisturize your skin well the night before.

On the day of the shoot, they recommend coming with a clean face and only moisturizer, no makeup. I also wore sunscreen because there was no way I was spending hours outdoors without it. They also recommend bringing your own invisible bra pads and seamless black shorts.

Photoshoot Day

Since my photoshoot was scheduled for the afternoon, I didn’t do too much walking that morning because I wanted to save my energy. I was also still recovering from altitude sickness, so I didn’t want to push myself too hard and risk getting sick before the shoot.

The studio had already shared their location with me. Since I was staying in Lijiang Old Town, I took a taxi there, which only took about 10 minutes. The studio is on the second floor of an old-looking building. It’s actually quite big, and when I arrived, there were already a few other customers waiting.

I was immediately welcomed by the staff member who had been communicating with me through WeChat. She doesn’t speak English, so she explained everything through WeChat, so I could immediately see the translation on my phone.

I waited for about 15 minutes before it was my turn for hair and makeup. There were three other ladies getting ready at the same time. I specifically asked the makeup artist not to make my skin look too white because I have naturally tan skin, and thankfully, the makeup photographed beautifully.

I’ve done quite a few photoshoots in different countries, and one thing I noticed in China is that many Chinese women seem to prefer a much lighter, almost porcelain-looking foundation. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it’s not really my thing. I always ask makeup artists to use a shade closer to my actual skin tone because I still want to look like myself in the photos.

Once I was ready, I joined three other customers and one of the staff members for the drive to the photoshoot location, about 15–20 minutes away. The studio provided the transportation. The location itself is basically a huge ranch with a massive open area, and there were already quite a few photoshoots happening when we arrived.

There, I was welcomed by another staff member who, thankfully, spoke English—shout-out to JJ! He was the photographer’s assistant and stayed with me throughout the shoot. While waiting for my turn, I was asked to fill out an insurance form.

And then came the moment I had been waiting for. I walked over to the shooting area, and there he was: a gorgeous Friesian horse waiting for me with his handler.

I love horses, and even though I’d never ridden one before, I wasn’t really nervous or scared. I trusted the horse and his handler, so I felt pretty comfortable throughout the shoot. He was such a good boy and definitely a professional at this whole photoshoot thing. 

Each customer had a photographer, an assistant, and a horse handler during the shoot. My photographer didn’t speak English, but JJ translated his instructions for me, and it really wasn’t difficult to follow along.

I don’t remember exactly how long the session lasted because I was too busy trying to pose while also making sure I didn’t fall off the horse. I think it was around an hour. It was so much fun, especially the final shot. I had to hold a sword in one hand and the reins in the other, all while keeping my balance and trying to look fierce. Not exactly effortless. But I can proudly say: we got the shot!

Once the photoshoot was over, I returned to the studio with the other ladies. After changing, I met with one of their editors, who asked if I had any preferences for the editing style. I told him I wanted to look natural and not overly edited. I don’t need to look extra snatched, lol. I still want to recognize myself. He gave me a thumb drive containing all the raw photos and videos from the shoot. I then selected the photos I wanted them to edit, and the final edited versions arrived about 12 days later.

Overall Experience

Overall, I had a really positive experience with this studio, although there were a few hiccups along the way. The raw files didn’t get saved properly on the thumb drive, so they had to send a new one to my hotel. Then the courier delivered it to the wrong hotel. Luckily, the staff at my hotel were incredibly proactive and eventually tracked it down at another hotel nearby.

Usually, whenever I do photoshoots like this, it’s just me and the photographer in a private session. This one was a little different. I shared the ride to the location with other customers, and the ranch itself was also being used for several photoshoots at the same time. I had no issue with this at all, but it was definitely a new experience for me.

I would recommend Yang Hua Xiu to anyone looking for something a little more adventurous and who’s comfortable getting on a horse. The outfit I wore wasn’t really a traditional hanfu from a specific Chinese dynasty. It was more of a fantasy period-drama costume, with a bit of that wuxia heroine vibe. Historical accuracy aside, it was incredibly beautiful, and I loved everything about the look

What’s your favorite Chinese period drama, and which character would you want to dress up as?