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Q: Why don't Chinese people wear sunglasses?
I have noticed that Chinese people seldom wear sunnies unless it is for fashion purposes.
Living in the south, I can barely go outside without sunglasses.
Is it due to the colour of their eyes or some other reason? Any other explainations??
They do like sunglasses - they just remove the lenses before putting them on! 
for eyes.
Chinese dislike sun. Curtains on the windows and light turned on inside and open umbrellas outside at sunny weather.
We're having shades, because we don't mind - like sunny weather and brown/reddish skin sitting on the beach.
Chinese consider colored skin/tan as 'not in', or only outdoors workers have brown skin, what is considered below standard.
'You farmer you.....'
Only proper skin color in China is yellow.
They won't admit it. I'm regularly teasing my students, when I enter the classroom, and light is turned on with curtains covered windows during the sunny.
icnif77:
My students all know meaning of the word 'cave'.
They all know what 'bat' is, but 'bat's homeland' isn't that popular.
mArtiAn:
That's true, Chinese people see tanned skin as indicative of poverty and thus unattractive, westerners see it as attractive, possibly as it indicates one has the funds to lay in the sun.
icnif77:
I have two 17-years old girls on International class, and one of them opened web photos of classical Italian town/island yesterday evening. I commented: 'That's an Italian island.....'.
After her surprising response 'how do you know?', I told them 'that's not a big deal'. It is the same as when you see town with (Chinese) temple, you know that's place somewhere in Asia.
I continued: 'Did you know, beach-goers in Mediterranean aren't required to wear swim suit?'
They thought I'm joking. I continued: 'people on Med. beach can have bathing suit or they can be naked, if they desire. Girls are walking through the beach without bra or completely naked. Men too.....and other swim-short dressed beach-goers aren't surprised at all.'
They still don't believe me, but they can't find the reason/ending of my joke (if that was a joke). I'm looking forward to clearing the matter in near future.
Even Yanks would (did) have Q (in Fl) on above statement about nude Med. beaches.
mArtiAn:
Yes, I remember as a young man lying on the beach in Spain surrounded by topless beauties. By the time I stood up it looked like I'd been digging for treasure.
icnif77:
I was some 10-years old strolling on the beach with my cousin looking for the naked people.
. Purchasing of the binocs was the real plan at the time, because of scouting the beach, before 'innocent' walks. LOL
We were both swim-shorts-dressed, and were just looking...That was some ..../LTA ago.
I think it's because dark eyes are less sensitive to the sun, the same way darker skin is.
I'm the same, I have blue eyes and can barely open my eyes in summer without sunglasses.
iWolf:
I was thinking the same thing. I have blue eyes also.
Some sort of natural selection going on?
Stiggs:
Evolution. People with darker eyes came from hotter parts of the world back in the day.
Blue eyed people came from colder parts of Europe. Eyes and skin evolved to suit the climate and conditions.
Hotwater:
Agreed on the evolution/blue-eyed thing. Primarily in northern hemisphere countries with short days/long nights (think Scandinavia)
I'm also blue-eyed and wear prescription sunglasses a lot so I don't feel blinded.
-ish.Lol, I never went sunglasses shopping in China. But if I did, I can imagine being pretty disappointed. Chinese spend a lot of time studying or staying at home if you haven't noticed. If they do go out, they may carry umbrella, or the sun may be conveniently blocked with pollution. "Fun in the sun" isn't really part of their culture
I doubt it has anything to do with eye color.
In addition so so many people have prescription eyewear and I don't believe transition lenses have made it to China
Hotwater:
I've been shopping for glasses and sunglasses in Guangzhou and there's a good choice and some good styles (also some bloody awful styles!). My choice of sunglasses was narrowed down as I needed prescription lenses fitted but still got a decent pair for about 500RMB including the prescription lenses. You should go and look someday
They do like sunglasses - they just remove the lenses before putting them on!
What are you talking about? I know plenty of Chinese people who wear sunglasses.
Blue eyes are essentially a deleterious (disadvantageous) mutation. Some find it attractive, but besides aesthetics it serves no purpose to be sensitive to sunlight. I think.
I had tears in my eyes during outdoor photo sessions where sunlight was shone into my eyes from above and below with reflectors. Chinese thought it was so strange that I couldn't keep my eyes open for long.
OTOH, my wife complains that in dim evening light outside, she can't see anything. I can still see enough to see where I'm going. Perhaps blue eyes are better for night vision?
expatlife26:
yeah you know what I have trouble seeing in bright sunlight too as a blonde hair blue eye type of person as well. Never thought of the connection but maybe that's right.
Sounds like we're the real victims my friend.
I am not sure what you are talking about, loads of Chinese people wear sunglasses. This is based on the north of China. I can't speak for the south. The theories on eye colours might have some truth to them. I have green eyes (that change colour), I find that bright lights are blinding to me but I have excellent night vision.
Feel like I see people wearing sunglasses all the time. At least no more or less than I would expect back home. Never noticed in any case.
Maybe it's because people who would be wearing sunglasses carry around an umbrella instead and use that for shade instead. Just a guess.
