The college 'sweetheart' of Xi'an

• Source: Global Times
• [21:32 November 09 2009]
• Comments

Kang Xiaohan, known as the "candied fruit beauty," sets up shop at XJU's south gate. Photo: CFP

By Wen Ya

Going to class through Xi'an Jiaotong University's (XJU) south gate got a lot more interesting ever since Kang Xiaohan set up shop there.

Kang, a beautiful 19-year-old street vendor selling tanghulu, a Chinese candied fruit on a stick, has been turning heads outside campus for nearly two years, which has turned her into a local celebrity both on campus and online.

Known "candied fruit beauty" on the school's BBS forum for months, Kang became an overnight sensation after her story made the front page of local newspaper Chinese Business View recently.

By the end of last month, a google search turned up over 1.2 million results.

Originally from Yu'an village, Anyang, Henan Province, Kang moved to Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province five years ago, and has been working her family's candied fruit stand for the past five years. She began hearing about her Internet celebrity on XJU's forum as early as last October.

"A lot of students told me I'm popular online. I'm really flattered that they notice me," Kang said.

According to Kang, she has more male customers partly because there are more males at XJU, which is mainly a science and engineering university.

But the boys can think of a few other reasons why they keep coming back.

"She's really beautiful, fashionable and always looks good," said 25-year-old Xie Juan, a second-year graduate student at the School of Material Science & Engineering.

"The first time I saw her, I was so smitten I bought two tanghulu, and they were really delicious," said Yang Kehui, a grad student at the School of Economics & Finance. "Every time I pass the south gate, I'll take a quick peek at her."

Although Kang is the same age as her customers, she has to work to support her family, which all the students respect, Yang explained.

"I've no talent for studying and I don't like it anyway," Kang said. "I have a younger brother in the 10th grade back home and he needs our support."

Kang has carved out quite a little business (with a brutal schedule); working from 10 am to 3 am, she earns on average 100-200 yuan ($14.64-29.29) a day.