Beauty and the pavilion

Having photos taken with visitors is just one of many duties performed by attractive guides in China's provincial pavilions. Gao Erqiang / China Daily

Beauty queens from all over China are serving as guides at various pavilions, Wang Hongyi reports.

There is a popular saying that complements the renowned beauty of Chongqing women: "A man will not realize he has married too early until he visits Chongqing." However, if you don't have time to visit Chongqing, you still have a chance to check the veracity of this saying by visiting the Chongqing Pavilion in the Expo Garden.

Unlike the straightforward northern women or the sweet-tempered southern belle, Chongqing women are famous for their looks and fiery nature, created by the distinct mountainous environment and rainy weather of the country's southwest.

Twenty-year-old Chongqing girl Nie Aixin stands out as proof. Last month, she was crowned Miss Chongqing after a selection process that included sashaying across the stage, answering challenging questions and performing dances and songs.

Participants in the Miss Chongqing beauty contest were chosen as pavilion guides. Photos Provided to China Daily

The 1.73-meter-tall, 50-kilogram beauty is a student from Chongqing's Southwest University. During the beauty contest, her harmonious and graceful dance movements, thanks to years of dance lessons, carried the audiences with her.

Nie, along with other girls from the pageant are now serving as guides in the Chongqing Pavilion.

Compared with glamorous runway shows and bikini contests, work at the Expo Garden is not easy - sometimes even boring.

A beautiful smile is essential to the young girls' duties at the pavilion. But what kind of smile is the most beautiful? Nie said this is the question she thinks about every day.

"Just show eight teeth, and slightly turn up the corners of the mouth. No more, no less," said Nie, explaining her perfect smile.

Every day before she enters the Chongqing Pavilion, Nie will pat her cheeks lightly. "It can help relax the muscles of cheeks and maintain a beautiful smile for the whole day," she said.