Throwback Pic Of The “4 Beauties Of Taiwan”, Including Lin Ching Hsia, Shows That Stars In The Past Didn’t Need To Have Their Photos Retouched

The ‘60s and ‘70s were the golden age of Taiwan cinema and that era produced countless of stars. Though many have since retired from showbiz, they are still very fondly remembered by fans today.

Case in point: A throwback pic of '70s screen goddesses Hu Yin Meng, Zhou Dan Wei, Lin Ching Hsia and Hu Huichung that went viral recently.

A fan had shared a Facebook photo of the four actresses and it caused quite a stir online.

Dubbed the “Four Beauties of Taiwan”, they were regarded the shining stars of the Taiwanese film industry at the time.

Netizens gushed about how gorgeous and elegant the actresses, who appear to be in their 20s, were. What's even more impressive is that the pic hasn't been retouched. 

They also remarked that actresses then were “real and natural beauties” and that the stars today can’t hold a candle to them.

There were comments like "Everyone looks so beautiful... and this photo hasn't been retouched", "Everyone has their own unique charm and beauty then. Unlike now, when everyone looks like clones of each other”, and “So many fakes now. The stars today have had too much work done”.

The most recognisable of the four is perhaps Ching Hsia, 67.

Ching Hsia has starred in more than 100 movies in her four decade-long career and is best known for her role as Dongfang Bubai in 1992 hit wuxia film Swordsman II. 

She retired in 1994 after marrying billionaire tycoon Michael Ying. She has two daughters with Michael, Eileen, 26, and Melani, 21, and also a step-daughter Claudia, 35, from Michael’s first marriage.

Touted as Ching Hsia’s successor, Huichung was one of the biggest stars back in the '80s, appearing in a string of hit movies like 1979’s Your Smiling Face, 1985’s My Lucky Stars and 1988's The Inspector Wears Skirts.

The 64-year-old faded out of the spotlight in the late ‘90s, after tying the knot with Hong Kong businessman Patrick Ho, and has since kept a low profile. Her 22-year-old daughter Audrey Ho is following in her footsteps to become an actress.

Dan Wei, 65, got her start in showbiz as a model and was known as Taiwan’s first supermodel. She later made her mark in acting and received accolades for her roles in films 1977’s The Glory Of The Sunset and 1979’s Tragedy of Love.

At 35, at the peak of her career, Dan Wei married businessman Xiao Junlang. She later suffered from breast cancer and their marriage fell apart when he had an affair. Dan Wei relocated overseas after they divorced in 2014.

Yin Meng rose to prominence in 1975 after starring in The Life God alongside Ching Hsia. The 69-year-old appeared in 42 movies in her 15-year career. At 35, she retired from acting to focus on writing.

Photos: Facebook, Lin Ching Hsia/ Weibo