In the past five years, the growth rate of China's beauty industry
outstripped that of national GDP, and will further double in the
future five years, according to a recent survey.
The sharp growth reflects the fact that Chinese people are paying
more attention to their "face" and general appearance amid better
living conditions.
More and more Chinese care about their looks, especially in public,
and neat dress, elegant manners and light makeup are objectives of
modern Chinese woman, said Zhang Shu, chief representative of the
China agency for the French Association of Fragrance Flavor and
Cosmetic Industry.
Zhao Zhenguo, chairman of the Asia Association of Beauty and
Hairdressing, said that, along with general economic development,
Chinese people now wish to pursue beauty, from simple hair washing
and hair cutting to professional beauty treatment and hairdressing.
What they want now is leisure and being able to appear natural and
comfortable in the name of beauty.
In
recent years, some government officials, entrepreneurs began to
hire their own image designers and image consultants. Many aged
from 25 to 45 are fastidious about their dress in different places.
Knowledge of clothes arrangement, skin health and makeup skills are
becoming "common sense" for modern women.
Some universities have set up selective courses, teaching beauty
treatment, makeup and etiquette to help students in their future
professional career.
An
advanced women's college has opened in Beijing. Its principal, Dr.
Li Yaoling, said many women are no longer just satisfied with
beauty and body treatment, but seek more self-cultivation and
better manners, reflecting the progress of society. The college
courses include public speaking, music, art, and marriage and love
analysis. Celebrities are often invited to tell their own
stories.
The upgrading of beauty pursuit contributes greatly to tertiary
industry, with the beauty industry producing tens of billions of
yuan and 20 million jobs.
(China.org.cn by Li Liangdu, January 15, 2003)