WEBThe qipao was the official formal dress during the Qing Dynasty era. Both "qipao" (Mandarin) and "cheongsam" (Cantonese) are used to describe the same Chinese dress worn by women. In Hong Kong, the cheongsam is used as formal school uniform. A "cheongsam" worn by a male is called a changshan in Mandarin, which means 'long shirt'.