Ever more Chinese women are embracing the "facekini" to protect them from the sun and the threat of a tan on a trip to the beach.
27.07.2015
(AFP) Ever more
Chinese women are embracing the "facekini" to protect them from the sun
and the threat of a tan on a trip to the beach.
Pale white skin is highly-valued in China, where a darker
complexion is associated more with poor rural women, who often labour
for long hours in the sun.
The nylon accessory has tiny holes for the mouth and nose, offering
those who couple it with a full body suit complete protection from not
only ultraviolet rays, but also jellyfish and mosquitoes.
The mask was developed more than 10 years ago, with Chinese media
attributing its invention to Zhang Shifan, who runs a swimwear store in
Qingdao.
The mask has become a common sight on the beaches of Qingdao, in the eastern province of Shandong.
The former German colony is best known abroad as the home of Tsingtao
beer, perhaps China's best-known brand overseas, but is also a resort
where holidaymakers flock to cool off in the Yellow Sea during the heat
of summer.
The facekini has evolved into a fashion accessory for some, and comes
in many different colours, with some of the most recent designs
resembling the brightly coloured and striking masks of Peking Opera.