Although officially Han Chinese, the Hui'an women practice distinctive customs and traditions that make them stand out among other ethnic minorities in China. Hui'an, a small town of 10, 000 nestled on the coast of the Huidong Peninsula, is home to the Hui'an people, whose customs have attracted the attention of Chinese and foreign scholars, as well as the imaginations of tourists. Well known for their hard work and kindness, the women do most of the formwork, road repair, and family chores while their husbands are at sea.

The traditional garb of the Hui'an, a floral pattern kerchief, short jacket, silver waist belt and loose trousers is jokingly referred to as the "feudal head, democratic belly, thrifty jacket, and wasted trousers" costume.

Hui'an women generally wear kerchiefs and tight bamboo hats on their heads, a close copy of feudal styles, thus "feudal head". The short jackets they wear expose their bellies and waists, representing "democracy" or freedom and also save material for "thrift". Their trouser bottoms are wide, often 40 cm around, which has earned them the moniker of "waste". The joke gained popularity in the 1950s, and is still used today.

There are two types of bamboo hats Hui'an women wear; one is big, thick and heavy with a slightly rolled up brim, the other is small, thin and light. The hats are usually painted yellow to reflect the sunbeam and protect the women from sunburn.

Young and middle-aged women divide their hair and tie it up above their ears and secure the hair with three combs. Unmarried women will wear fringes. Then the kerchief, usually a floral pattern of green and white blossoms on a white background, is folded into a triangle and tied to their heads. Not only does the kerchief protect the women from sand and rain and keep them warm, it also keeps their hairstyles in place!

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