Shanghai named China’s sexiest city

BEIJING - Shanghai has topped a poll of the sexiest cities in China because of its “strong economy, iconic buildings, landscape and cultural diversity”.

Shanghai is closely followed by Hong Kong because “it has many celebrities” and Chongqing because of its “beautiful women”, a survey conducted by the Horizon Research Consultancy Group has shown.

Over 17 percent of 6,577 people from 30 cities in China named Shanghai as the sexiest city. Hong Kong came second with 8.4 percent and Chongqing came third with 4.7 percent.

Beijing and Guangzhou, which both got 4.6 percent, came fourth, China Daily reported.

People gave a wide range of reasons for naming Shanghai as the sexiest city, including its strong economy, buildings and landscape, hosting of the World Expo and cultural diversity.

Over 65 percent of respondents who named Chongqing listed beautiful women as their reason, while only 5.3 percent of those who supported Shanghai gave the same reason.

However, though the survey aimed for a wider definition of “sexiness”, many people were confused over the concept.

Gu Xiaoming, a professor with Shanghai-based Fudan University, said “sexy” is an outdated criterion in an age when harmony and livability is most valued.

The concept of a sexy city can be misleading in terms of focusing too much on prosperity and a lifestyle fashioned on foreign culture, hence undervaluing a peaceful life and ignoring indigenous culture, Gu said.

About 33 percent of respondents said they “cannot tell” which city is sexy, according to the report.