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A Chinese lifestyle blogger, Liu Kaixin, recently took her followers on a cultural experiment in Syria, where she spent a day dressed as a conservative Muslim woman wearing a black veil that only exposed her eyes. Her journey, documented through a video, offered a glimpse into the daily life of veiled women in the region while eliciting diverse reactions both online and offline.
In the video, Liu begins her day by donning the traditional black abaya and niqab, expressing curiosity about how women who cover their faces navigate daily life. She starts at a local market, struggling to breathe and see clearly through the veil. "It feels stifling, and I can't even see the road properly," she remarks.
Her next stop is a store selling secondhand women's clothing, where the stares from locals quickly remind her of how unusual her presence appears. “The shopkeeper looked at me with such a puzzled expression,” Liu narrates, adding that people seemed surprised to see a Chinese woman dressed in traditional Muslim attire.
She then hails a taxi, sitting in the front seat, which visibly shocks the male driver. "Normally, Muslim women don’t sit in the front," she notes, acknowledging the cultural norms she inadvertently disrupts.
Later, Liu visits a restaurant, where she faces the challenge of eating while wearing the veil. Cutting her food into small pieces, she tries to discreetly lift the niqab to eat, but the effort results in more food falling to the ground than reaching her mouth. Frustrated, she abandons the custom and eats openly. "I just couldn’t enjoy my meal otherwise," she says, drawing amused glances from other patrons.
In a clothing store, Liu continues to attract attention. Customers and staff alike can’t help but giggle at her attempt to browse clothing labels while lifting her veil. "I felt suffocated and couldn’t breathe properly," she admits, eventually purchasing two pairs of pants and leaving the store feeling awkward and self-conscious.
Finally, Liu removes the veil on a crowded street, declaring, "I can’t take it anymore. Freedom feels so good!"
The video quickly went viral, sparking mixed reactions online. Many netizens found Liu’s experiment humorous and eye-opening. "Wearing the veil couldn’t hide her distinctly Chinese demeanor," one commenter joked. Another added, "She looked less like a devout Muslim and more like someone about to rob a bank."
Some users admired her boldness. "It’s a realistic and brave attempt to understand another culture," one user wrote. Others criticized her approach as disrespectful or overly dramatized. "This is not how you understand cultural customs - this feels more like mockery," one netizen argued.
Interestingly, the video also reignited debates about the cultural significance of the veil. "It’s strange how Arab men look dashing in white robes, but women in black robes look so out of place to outsiders," commented a user, sharing their own travel experience in the Middle East.
Liu Kaixin’s video succeeded in sparking curiosity and conversations about cultural practices and perspectives. While her portrayal may have drawn both praise and criticism, it offered a rare and candid glimpse into a lifestyle unfamiliar to many.
As one commenter summarized, "Love her authenticity and humor - she’s not afraid to step out of her comfort zone, even if it means facing awkward moments."
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