Guessing at people's ages is a sensitive and tricky subject that I tend to stay away from, regardless of country. However, finding out the real age of some of my Chinese friends can be truly mind blowing. I'll never forget the day when I found out that my Chinese professor's teaching assistant wasn't an 18-year-old college student, but a 31-year-old English professor. Even after giving birth to her beautiful (and incredibly large) baby girl, she still managed to maintain her youth and beauty. It really got me wondering, how is it that she and so many other Chinese I know maintain their youthful appearance long into middle age? No doubt genetics plays a huge part, but surely the way they live their lives day-to-day greatly influences their appearance as well.

Exercise: time and impact

The practice of zaocao (早操), is a series of stretching-based exercises that gently exercise muscles, focus on balance and coordination, and generally works all areas of the body. These exercises, which all Chinese today learn as children in primary school, are perfect for any age and ability level. There are a number of interesting benefits to be gained from practicing zaocao. First, as the "zao” in zaocao implies, morning is the best time to do these exercises. Chinese psychological research indicates early morning exercise (following  a full night's sleep) can help establish a more positive emotional tone for the day. If your night is filled with bad dreams, morning exercises can help relieve any built up stress. And while it's far from the only place to come to such conclusions, the notion of waking up early and being active in the morning as a way to "start the day right” is a long and deeply held belief in Chinese culture. Look no further than the old saying: "A good year starts in the spring, while a good day starts in the morning (一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨)”. In addition, daily zaocao is also said to be one of the best ways to lose weight, relieve injured muscles, restore natural beauty and relieve tension. For more information on what exactly zaocao is, check out an impressive (and a bit eerie) demonstration here.

Diet:  you are what you eat

The Chinese believe very much in nourishing beauty from the inside out. They enjoy an extremely wide variety of foods—consuming far more fruits, vegetables, fungi and soybean products than the average Westerner—and cooking preparations that are both conducive to maintaining a youthful, healthy body (despite perhaps putting on a couple of MSG saturated pounds). Simply put, maintaining proper nutrition is one of the best ways to stay looking young and beautiful, and the Chinese have a number of culinary habits that reflect that healthy/youthful relationship. Eating cooked food and avoiding cold drinks are two ways of flushing out toxins and maintaining a relaxed, strong digestive system. Stir-frying and steaming are the preferred cooking methods for their quick preparation time and their ability to retain the food's natural nutrients. Looking at the specific health and beauty benefits of certain foods, Chinese believe that black sesame seeds keep hair thick and vivid in color,white fungus increases elasticity and decreases wrinkles, and ginseng rids the body of tiredness and stress. Flower and Pu-er teas are also known for anti-oxidant and youth restoring properties. The traditional Chinese diet also follows the principles of properly balancing yin and yang foods. Foods are seen either as yin-enhancing (decreasing the body's metabolism), yang-enhancing (increasing the body's metabolism), or neutral.  Overall, the goal to maintaining youthfulness is to eat a balanced diet, while alleviating certain health problems by increasing the intake of foods that are known for their curative properties.

Medical care: the virtues of prevention

In contrast to the predominantly curative-based healthcare system in many Western countries, Chinese traditional medicine is primarily known for using natural methods to prevent disease and alleviate or cure pre-existing conditions. One such approach is the use of acupuncture, which, in addition to being used as a beauty treatment in China, is also catching on abroad. Acupuncture is said to increase blood flow to the face (which enhances healthy coloring) and increase its elastin and collagen by stimulating certain facial points, thereby creating a more youthful look. In addition, herbal remedies are used to enhance complexion and keep skin healthy.  Fruits such as dried persimmon (taken once or twice daily) can keep skin glowing. Other remedies and mixes can be found at Shen-nong.com, a valuable English language resource for traditional Chinese medicine information, facts, and remedies. Mandatory note of caution: be sure to consult your doctor before you start taking anything.

Outdoor fun: umbrellas on a sunny day?!

To the unaccustomed foreigner, watching the girls walk around with sun parasols, or seeing men and women wearing their coats backwards to avoid the sun can seem a bit odd or extreme. However, international research on the matter universally agrees that avoiding the sun is actually one of the best ways to maintain youthful, bright looking skin.  For women, wearing make-up with a bit of sunscreen mixed in can be a more practical way of protecting one's complexion. Or, if you're willing to go to more extremes, the recently trendy face-kini, which is similar to a ski mask but made from swimwear fabric, may be the way to go. Another way Chinese avoid severe shock to the body is to gradually change from warmer clothing to cooler clothing (and vice versa) during the changing seasons. According to their reasoning, by changing gradually, the body avoids sudden temperature shocks that can affect appearance and it is better able to function.

Moving forward: the effects of modernization

While traditional methods may provide youth from the inside out, modern trends and western influences are causing many to turn away from their traditional roots and become lazier in their physical routines and diet. While it's true that genetics help determine China's youthful trend (just as they do in other Asian countries), the environment and routine are the determinants of how well those genes will be expressed. With the growth and popularity of fast food, cars, and electronic personal devices, natural beauty is becoming harder and harder to obtain and maintain the natural way. Time will tell if the Chinese will maintain their youthfulness or if the elements of modernization will eventually take their toll.

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Keywords: Chinese beauty secrets Chinese youthful appearance Chinese maintaining youth Chinese genetics Chinese aging well