Men in the Qing Dynasty were dominated by robes and jackets, which was especially popular in the Yongzheng period in the late Kangxi period. Women's dresses in the Qing Dynasty can be said to be a full banquet, Manchu women mainly wear robes, while Han people's clothing mainly consists of tops and skirts. In the mid-Qing Dynasty, imitation of Manchu costumes began, and the trend of imitation intensified in the later period. A large number of historical records record that Han people imitate Manchu costumes, which are also deeply loved by dignitaries and ladies.
1840 After the Opium War, influenced by western costumes, the improved cheongsam was gradually loved by women. This kind of cheongsam was introduced to thousands of families after Han people absorbed western clothing. There are many styles of cheongsam. In 1930s, the improved cheongsam became the standard dress for women in China, and the dress was constantly improved and changed in the process of popularity. The 1930s and 1940s were the golden age of cheongsam, and also the most glorious era of women's clothing in China's modern history. At that time, the cheongsam was slender in shape, consistent with the popular European women's dress silhouette, completely jumping out of the limitations of the previous cheongsam, showing a new dress that combines Chinese and western styles and another fashion trend that prevailed in cheongsam.
Since 1930s, cheongsam has almost become the standard dress for women in China. Folk women, students, workers and wives of dignitaries all wear cheongsam, which has become the dress of communication occasions and diplomatic activities. The government of the Republic of China even designated cheongsam as one of the national clothes in 1929. In 1980s, cheongsam was re-valued, gradually revived in Chinese mainland, and spread all over the world. 1984, cheongsam was also designated as the diplomatic dress of contemporary women by the State Council.