The Han dynasty

[SunWuKong]

Originally Posted by Seamus

Actually, I know exactly what he's talking about. Probably not full-blown Middle Eastern, but some Chinese do have a slightly Middle Eastern look. I hate it when people ask such people, as well as "Korean-", "Filipino-" or "Japanese"-looking Chinese people, whether they are "full Chinese," because this question presumes that there's ONE single "Chinese look." I only get this in the U.S., but in northwest China, where I was last winter, no one asked whether I was a foreigner until I opened my mouth, because they're used to seeing a diversity of Chinese looks there. I was very happy not to be seen as a foreigner but as a real Chinese person.

if you were in the northwest, people are probably used to seeing ethnic minorities in that area. they probably thought you were one.