Relative Self-Judged Attractiveness Levels Of Chinese Females (Cross-Regional)

[GreenArrow45]

So, I know a topic titled "Chinese girls" may lead people to think I'm going to ask who is attractive and things of that nature. Well, I am, in a way, but for a reason, so I hope you read that part before ignoring the topic/question.

Where I am coming from with this thread is that I have several pretty Chinese female-friends (not girlfriends or anything more than platonic relations) who have low self-esteem (lower than the average girl) and view themselves as being inferior in terms of appearance to girls in coastal provinces/cities or southern locations. Such as Qingdao, Dalian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hainan, Hangzhou, ect. My question is, is this a common belief throughout China that girls in these locations are more attractive than more inland provinces, or is this merely my female friends being, well, female.

I am just trying to understand better why girls I know here who are in fact attractive, have this point of view, and if theres any legitimacy to it - as I have never been to the south asides from HK.

Thanks,

BK

[Hofmann]

This is a guess. The south and coastal regions are wealthier, so the people eat better, so they are healthier, so they are prettier.

[gato]

I think we need some pictures to answer this one.

[roddy]

So, I know a topic titled "Chinese girls" may lead people to think I'm going to ask who is attractive and things of that nature.

Not now it won't . . .

If this goes down the 'hur hur XXXX girls have big titties' route it'll get closed.

[anonymoose]

I've not really heard of people feeling inferior in the way that you suggest, but certainly some cities do have a reputation for producing attractive girls. As Hofmann pointed out, many of the coastal cities are wealthier, and thus girls from these areas tend to have more fashionable clothing and make-up. But in my opinion, a lot of girls over-do it in this respect. At least I appreciate a naturally pretty girl more than one that is pretty by virtue of make-up and other accessories. So I'd say that some of the prettiest girls I see around here are from inland. (Of course everything I've said here is just generalisation.)

[wushijiao]

I think there's a degree of truth to it.

Another factor can be that girls from the inland often dress fairly cheaply (ie. even if their clothes look nice, objectively speaking, they appear "cheap"...), and they can't afford as many beauty products. Also, when I was living in Henan in the early 2000's, it was not uncommon for even college girls to have done a decent amount of farm work to help out their families when they were younger. To me, this gave them a more tan and athletic look (something many American women try for), but to many Chinese, this look would not be held in high regard.

I don't know. These could be possibilities.

[roddy]

Is it possible that people in Taiyuan just don't like themselves? I think it might explain a lot.

[GreenArrow45]

Thanks for changing the topic name - I don't want the thread to degrade into what cities has girls with the largest breasts ect.

As to your question - yes, I think it's quite possible that people in this city, in general, have lower self-esteem. I'm just a bit curious if the hegemonic view in China is that attractive Chinese girls come from the coasts and island(s).

[renzhe]

Are you sure that this is not just good old Chinese 哪里哪里 modesty? It could be that they are simply expecting a compliment from you, instead you go off and start a forum thread

Just about every Chinese girl I've met has insisted that she's not pretty, is fat, etc. Even when it's blatantly wrong and dishonest.

[gougou]

I think Chengdu is accepted throughout most of China to be home to many beautiful girls, so I don't think the coastal theory holds.

[Erbse]

Whatever floats your boat.

[jbradfor]

My memory is going, someone help me here...

I recall vaguely that there is a Chinese saying along the lines of "[it's best to] be raised in XXX [because they have the best food], marry in YYY [because they have the prettiest women], live in ZZZ [because it is the richest], and die in WWW [because it is the nicest scenery, and you will spend eternity there]". Anyone help me out? As I recall YYY was not by the coast.

[Baggerking]

I don't want the thread to degrade into what cities has girls with the largest breasts ect.

Hate to be the degenerate here, but when did this thread occur and can anyone post a link to it? (for reference I threw up from alcohol three times tonight already, so yes this is a drunk post)

[gerri]

There was also a post somewhere (maybe Chinasmack, but doesn't look like it) on a sort-of ranking of the cities (or regions) having the prettiest girls, and what kind of pretty. I know that Hunan was amongst them, for something like "natural" or "ordinary" beauty, and I've heard it said before that Hunan had some of the prettiest girls - then again, guess where I am...

I'd assume that there is a lot of modesty, but there are also (said to be) very peculiar standards. Read http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/understanding-chinese-women.htm ; their discussion of (also) this issue of perceptions of beauty is highly interesting, and more than slightly disturbing. (My take-away from it was, Chinese women are supposed to look like European women, but with extremely slender shape, though preferably not when it comes to breasts, to be considered truly pretty... ugh, talk about unachievable).

[doraemon]

四川，东北 and 江南 are the three areas of China that produce the most attractive females. I've heard some people say that 济南 produces pretty women as well but I just don't think 山东 women are that good looking.

Basically 四川 women are considered 'hot', 东北 women are considered taller and more elegant and curvy and 江南 ones tend to be more 'cute' and petite.

[889]

It's

生在苏州，住在杭州，吃在广州，死在柳州.

You 死在柳州 not because of its scenery but its coffins.