Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
When Americans go to the beach, they seem to bring an entire carload of chairs, umbrellas, coolers, tents, and swim toys. In northeastern China, beach-goers bring one other essential item: a "face-kini."
Advertisement
The mask, which was first used 9 years ago when it was invented by a local, is now used widely at East China Sea beaches in the northeastern city of Qingdao, a popular tourist destination for many Chinese seeking to escape the summer heat. The city is a short plane ride from Beijing and Shanghai.
Many beach-goers wear the masks to protect their faces from tanning and sun damage, which is looked down upon by Chinese as a sign of being a manual laborer.
Photographer Peng Yangjun, of the photographic duo Peng & Chen, recently traveled to Qingdao to photographer the face-covered beachgoers. He shared some photos with us here, but you can check out the rest at his website.
The mask, which has been dubbed the "face-kini" by Chinese netizens, is made of a stretchy fabric similar to what is used in bathing suits.Yangjun Peng
It has become so popular because Chinese people - middle-class women especially - are notoriously afraid of tanning. Dark skin is equated with being a "peasant" who works in construction or farming. A common Chinese idiom is "Fair skin conceals a thousand flaws."Yangjun PengWhile the masks were originally intended to protect against sun damage, many have found that they are effective at protecting from jellyfish stings and insect bites.Yangjun PengMost "face-kini" women are middle-aged retired Qingdaoese who swim in the city's oceans frequently. Many of the women say that they wear the masks because they are uncomfortable donning bathing suits in public. The masks shield their identity so that they can swim without fear of ridicule.Yangjun PengWhile the masks are mass-produced and sold in stores and on beaches for $2-4, many women make the masks by hand using old underwear, clothes, and swimsuits, says Peng. Each handmade one is unique with different textures and colors.Yangjun PengProtecting one's skin against the sun is practically an obsession for many in China. There is a massive industry for skin creams that promise fair skin and numerous beachgoers also wear full-body wetsuits and gloves that rise up the elbow, according to the New York Times. Yangjun Peng
