In ancient times Suzhou, Hangzhou and nearby Yangzhou were known for their beautiful and accomplished courtesans. It does these women no justice to call them "prostitutes". Ancient Chinese courtesans were cultured and talented, known for far more than their beauty alone, and under the patronage of the emperors these cities became home to a very unique and special gene pool.
Wives and daughters of wealthy and powerful men could not leave home or show their educational accomplishments in public without disgracing themselves. When traveling or entertaining, men instead sought out the company of courtesans. Ancient Chinese courtesans could discuss history and literature, play music, paint, write poetry, even play Chinese chess. Some were drawn to the area by opportunity, others through lack of any other choice, but freed from the restraints binding other women and allowed to shine, many of these fabulous ladies soared to great heights in ancient Chinese society.
Although love making was certainly part of their repertoire, it was not dispensed easily or to just anyone. Their patrons were the richest merchants and highest-ranking officials, and their relationships with these men could become quite complex. Some even gained the favor of the emperor himself.
Beauty and Talent Eternal
In Suzhou today, even the daughters of average middle-class Suzhou families are known for their beauty and intelligence. Their skin is smooth, their bodies soft and slender, their eyes bright, their eyebrows slim and their noses straight. They speak softly and melodiously as sweet birdsong. Their talents and abilities show not only good breeding but also a strong culture of education and refinement. Clearly Suzhou's cultural environment is still producing outstanding beauties.
In Hangzhou, not to be outdone, official studies have been performed to prove and identify the source of their native daughters' eternal beauty. In 2004, doctors at the Hangzhou Facial Surgery Hospital studied the faces of Hangzhou beauties, and concluded that women from this region typically have oval faces. Oval faces are considered the most charming and enchanting by the people of East Asia.
Rich and Fertile Ground
Today as in ancient times Suhang weather is warm and rainy, which they say allows the women there to keep their skin smooth and pale. Long a rich and fertile agricultural region, the area is now also a center of the electronics industry and so continues to attract many successful people. And after so many centuries of attracting the beautiful and talented women of China, the influence of heredity here is obvious to anyone's eye. Suzhou and Hangzhou continue to thrive economically and culturally, and attracting the wealthy, the powerful, the famous and the beautiful. The future of Suhang is looking beautiful indeed.