The giggling eyes of Zhang Yiqun gave it away, but her lips pursed. Something held her back. The freshman student at the University of International Business and Economics deflected the attention on her by diving a nervous laugh into the arms of a friend. It was a simple question: What would you ask United States President Barack Obama if you had the opportunity?

"I want to know if he wants to be a movie star after he retires (from politics)," the 17-year-old finally said, adding with an intent gaze, "because he is so good looking." More giggles followed.

Much has been made about the staid "town hall" meeting Obama held at the Museum of Science and Technology in Shanghai with 500 polite students from the city's universities.