According to Du, et al. (2024), some historians believe that the Xianbei could have had "exotic" features such as high nose bridges, blond hair and thick beards. However, other scholars have suggested the appearance of the Xianbei was not dramatically different from modern East Asians. A genetic analysis of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou revealed that he had an East Asian appearance, consistent with the hypothesis that the Xianbei were primarily of East Asian appearance.
According to Du et al (2024) some historians believe that the Xianbei could have had "exotic" features such as high nose bridges blond hair and thick beards However other scholars have suggested the appearance of the Xianbei was not dramatically different from modern East Asians A genetic analysis of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou revealed that he had an East Asian appearance consistent with the hypothesis that the Xianbei were primarily of East Asian appearance