Zhang Ming, head of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union, gives a speech during the opening ceremony for the exhibition From Shanghai to Brussels: One Hundred Years of Qipao History at the China Cultural Center in Brussels, April 26. [photo/cri.cn]

An exhibition featuring a range of qipao gowns, old photographs and traditional illustrated calendars opened the evening of April 26 at the China Cultural Center in Brussels next to the European Union headquarters.

The exhibition, From Shanghai to Brussels: One Hundred Years of Qipao History, started with a brilliant qipao show, filled with enchanting Chinese charm.

More than 200 people attended the opening ceremony. Those present included Zhang Ming, head of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union, his wife Cai Xiaoli as well as Chinese and European diplomats.

“Qipao literally means the bannerman’s gowns in the Qing Dynasty,” Zhang Ming said in his speech, “But qipao in the modern sense was not born until the middle of the 19th century.” At that time, during the opening-up and economic expansion of Shanghai, the city’s social life and ideas of culture and beauty all underwent great changes. It was within that social climate that the qipao was designed, becoming the iconic national garment of Chinese women during the 20th century.