Eurasian/ Half chinese half white treated almost like a celebrity in China?

[BenF]

Hello there, I've been solo travelling China for about a month now and the reactions I'm getting towards my appearance is very surprising to me and I know this sounds extremely vain but I feel I am almost treated like some kind of celebrity, so I'd just like to know the society a little better as to why.

I am an Australian by nationality and have a white father and Chinese malay mother. To put things into perspective, back at home in Australia whether because of culture or the media I'm not seen as extremely good looking or given a lot of attention about my looks, in saying that I'm treated quite normally most people don't think my physical appearance is anything amazing or terrible, most view me as asian in Australia as opposed to mixed.

Since travelling China however I have been completely surprised by how attractive many of the Chinese through Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu seem to think I am and most seem to immediately recognise me as mixed many approaching with english rather than chinese. I really don't want to sound narcissistic here or that I just love myself, I am just honestly wondering why the society is so different.

Everyday it seems like in hostels or trains people will ask me to take photos with them and many girls and even guys have told me that I look handsome or that it is become I am mixed and that is why they want the photos. I even see some young girls trying to take photos of me discretely without me knowing. A group of Xi'an locals even showed me all around the city and took me to dinner, I'm quite certain that initially at least it was only due to my appearance they were so interested in meeting and showing me around. I have even been in a group of white foreigners in a hostel and only I have been asked for a photo which seemed even more bizarre and surprised them also.

So, is there a big attraction to the Eurasian appearance in the Chinese popular media or modelling, or are eurasian children valued positively? I am truly curious, I attached a couple of photos.

[Lu]

There certainly is the idea that the children of Chinese/white couples are especially beautiful. So it's not about you specifically, unfortunately :-) I can only think of one somewhat famous mixed-race celebrity (梁心頤/Lara Veronin, singer), but that doesn't take away from the idea. I suppose you're not seen as exceptional in Australia as people there are more used to seeing people of various backgrounds. It'll probably gradually get less in China as well. White people used to be stared at & photographed all over the place, but now people are getting more used to seeing foreigners, this happens less. One can theoreticise about why Chinese people are so enamoured with mixed-race people (the familiar combined with the exotic; big eyes and light skin prized in non-mixed Chinese people as well), but I'd say enjoy your newfound fame. Perhaps ask your photographers where they are from and see if you can collect all provinces :-)

[abcdefg]

There certainly is the idea that the children of Chinese/white couples are especially beautiful.

 

I ran into this notion in Harbin, namely that the children of Chinese-Russian couples would automatically be good looking.

[Demonic_Duck]

To be fair you look like a pretty good looking dude from your photos.

[anonymoose]

Yeah. You should have nailed that girl on the wall in Xi'an.

[roddy]

It's the white socks with black shoes... gets 'em every time...

[renzhe]

Yeah. You should have nailed that girl on the wall in Xi'an.

I doubt it. It's a public place and there are people watching.

[character]

You should contact some talent agencies -- you do look handsome enough to have a shot at making it in the modeling/entertainment industry in the Mainland or HK.  Even if it doesn't work out, it could be an adventure.

[陳德聰]

There's a good deal of fetishizing the exotic in a lot of colonial cultures I think, and you look just exotic enough to not pass for Chinese while also having light skin. I think full white foreigners had/have that appeal too, in some cases fully at odds with their actual level of attractiveness back at home.

 

You can definitely take full advantage of this foreign dancing monkey fetish if that is something you pine for.

[Touchstone57]

This type of thing often makes me wonder how mixed Chinese children who grow up in China feel. They may grow up being  self conscious about their appearance and the subject of strangers attention and obsessive behaviour and comments. Or of course it could have a different effect... 

[Demonic_Duck]

Well, if being doted on by two parents and four grandparents turns kids into 小皇帝 and 小公主, I dread to think what being fawned on by pretty much everyone you met would do...

[ouyahudie]

i think most asians find mixed/eurasian look prettiest~! not just chinese

i think 你是一个很英俊的男人♥ ... 囧

[Roze]

Don't let it go to your head, as somebody who looks exotically different you are of course a curiosity. As a blue eyed blonde I get stared at all the time by Chinese just smile politely and don't go on an ego trip about it.