Chinese actresses Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li were included on the Top 99 World Desirable Women List compiled by website AskMen.com. Chinese-American actress Lucy Liu was also included in the list.

Gong Li, 34th on the list, was lauded by the website as one of China's most famous and celebrated actresses. Her films include Farewell My Concubine (1993), Chinese Box (1997) and The Emperor and the Assassin (1999), which happened to be the most expensive movie made in Chinese film history at the time.

In 2006, this Asian beauty starred opposite Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the film adaptation of the hit television series Miami Vice. Gong Li's subdued elegance and temperament proved it isn't necessary to succumb to a Sunset Strip wardrobe, a la Pamela Anderson, in order to exude sex appeal.

Zhang Ziyi's ranking slid to 83 from last year's 80. However, the website says it still shows its high recognition of the Chinese actress. They also highly praised Zhang's performance in the movie The Banquet.

American-born Chinese actress Lucy Liu's ranking rose from last year's 93 to 47. The website describes Lucy Liu as "combining the mysteries of the Orient with the sexy elegance of the Western lady, sending our heads spinning halfway around the globe with a single piercing look."

Singer-cum-actress Beyonce Knowles was named the world's most desirable woman this year.

The final result of the annual most desirable women list were determined by votes according to such criteria as charisma, intelligence, humor, self-sufficiency, and physical appeal.

There are three categories for votes: actresses, models and singers. Women are rated from 1 to 10 on the above criteria.

(CRIENGLISH.com February 2, 2007)