Cheongsam, the traditional dress of Chinese women in China and the world, is praised as the quintessence of Chinese culture and the national dress of women. Although there are still many disputes about its definition and the time when it came into being, it is still one of the most splendid phenomena and forms in China's long-standing clothing culture.
Cheongsam was formed in the 1920s of the last century. Some scholars believe that its source can be traced back to the deep clothing of the pre-Qin and Han dynasties. After the 1920s of the Republic of China, it became the most common women's clothing and was identified as one of the national dresses by the government of the Republic of China in 1929.
After the 1950s, cheongsam was gradually neglected in the mainland, especially during the cultural revolution when it was regarded as "feudal dross" and "bourgeois sentiment" was criticized.
After the 1980s, with the re-emphasis on traditional culture in the mainland and the influence of film and television culture, fashion shows and beauty contests, cheongsam not only gradually revived in the mainland, but also spread to all fashionable places in the world.
In 1984, cheongsam was designated by the State Council as the dress for female diplomats.
Since the Beijing Asian games in 1990, cheongsam has been chosen as the ceremonial dress in all the Olympic games, Asian games, international conferences and expositions held on the mainland.
On May 23, 2011, the handicraft of cheongsam became one of the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage approved and announced by the State Council.
In November 2014, at the 22nd APEC meeting held in Beijing, the Chinese government chose cheongsam as the dress for the wives of the leaders of the participating countries.