Beijing, April 26 (IANS) Models clad in revealing dresses at an ongoing international automotive exhibition here have drawn criticism for seeking instant fame while crossing the thin moral red line.
The controversy relates to the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (April 23 to May 2) where models wearing revealing dresses have turned the focus of public attention.
Though a total of 1,125 cars are on display, many web users said they enjoyed a "breast show" rather than a car exhibition after pictures featuring nearly topless models circulated online, Global Times reported.
Referring to pictures of Gan Lulu, an explicitly dressed model known for showing off her homemade nude photos, a microblogger joked on Sina Weibo site: "The brand is trying to convey the features of its car - convertible with double airbags."
Ahead of Gan's appearance, Li Yingzhi, a model for BMW, became an overnight star due to a diamond-studded dress that emphasised her breasts' contours.
One Weibo user said: "The show has been totally ruined by some models, as people swarm there to see all kinds of women and 'airbags' of different sizes. I miss the exhibitions of the past."
Yang Yang, a director of performances at the auto exhibition, explained that car makers had put their requirements for models according to the features of their cars.
Li Yinhe, a sociologist renowned for her sex studies, said Chinese people's perception of fashion was changing as society becomes increasingly open, and that there was no standard to regulate the degree to which a model could expose herself.
Chinese actress Yuan Li caused a stir after donning a dress that exposed her underwear at a film award ceremony last August.
In one extreme case, a woman undressed herself during a talent show in Chengdu, Sichuan province in November 2010, shocking everyone present.
The Chengdu Business Daily commented that those who want to show off their bodies in public have the freedom to do so, but they also need to take into consideration China's traditional values, society's tolerance of such behaviour and relevant laws.
