If you ever come to China, and a local person discovers that you are a foreigner, there are a few questions that will always be asked: Where are you from? What are you doing here? Are you married/do you have a girl friend?

For some reason Chinese people really enjoy helping you find a mate for life, especially if you’re friends with them. I have a few friends who often times bring up the fact that they have a few friends who are also single…leading to the topic of where the most beautiful Chinese girls are from. I don’t even ask about it, but people just like bragging about their hometown girls. So I listen.

To a local this seems to be a topic of pride…which I understand because I am also proud that USA produces very attractive Chinese American people. I’ve come to appreciate this FACT ever since I’ve moved to China…maybe it’s the food or the water or the people you grow up around in America, but Asian American females just look better.

A friend from Harbin reminds me constantly that the girls from Harbin are the best looking and that it’s obvious during the summer as opposed to the winter, hah. I have friends from Sichuan who tell me their best looking women there are known to be have a “spicey” personality. And there seems to be a feud between Shanghai and Dalian. Shanghai girls supposedly have a beautiful face, but so-so body…and girls from Dalian have the reverse..an o-k face, but really nice body. These are NOT my personal observations, but what I’ve been told. The only observation I am willing to admit is that northern gals tend to be taller than their southern counterparts. Oh, and Shanghai women are aggressive.

Notice that the fact is not seemingly backed by reasons supporting the fact. Does spiciness lead to good looks? Does obviousness in beauty during a particular season contribute to one’s physical rating?

I believe culture plays a huge factor for judging looks. A local friend of mine was saying how he saw some of the scandalous pictures of Edison Chen and a well known Chinese actress. He said every time he sees this woman in a movie or photograph, he will not find her attractive. I’m not sure if I’m right, but it seems Chinese people seem to see a person as a whole instead of modularizing characteristics. My friend may think the Chinese actress is physically attractive, but knowing her past will be difficult for him to separate the two aspects of the girl. In the same way, if a girl is known positively for something unrelated to looks, her physical rating will be higher. Sorry if this is confusing. Let me throw in another example. Guys from the States will readily admit a girl is hot, and even if they know something completely horrible about that person they won’t mention it…the girl is just hot. Chinese guys might admit a girl is still really good looking, but they will usually point out that flaw that tarnishes their total image of the girl.

So don’t be surprised if a guy from China tells you about his hometown’s women being the best looking for reasons that you may not be used to!