Why the Chinese do not like to sunbathe (17 photos)

Many Chinese do not like to sunbathe, and try their best to avoid the open scorching sun. Fighting a tan they next way.





The story that the Chinese are very proud of their whiteness skin is not new. Even in ancient China, skin color indicated belonging person to one class or another.

Swarthy, tanned skin was possessed by the peasants, all day who worked all the time in the field and most often under the scorching sun.



Know in Ancient China

But the whiteness of the skin, on the contrary, said that the person, if it happens in the sun, it is extremely rare, and it’s time for walking chooses such that he certainly does not fall out of favor with the sun's rays. White skin could boast of nobility, persons of royal blood and their subjects who spent most of their lives at court.

For Chinese girls, white skin is a sign of sophistication, elegance and purity. Therefore, even in ancient China, they used all kinds of and sometimes not very healthy means for whitening the skin and emphasizing its supposedly natural pallor: on the cheeks blush was applied thickly, lips were brightly painted and blue wreaths were painted on on the neck.



Peasants in ancient China

By the way, in modern China, the commitment to white skin has not gone away, and not only women suffer from a passion for pallor, but also men. Traditions, what to do! The Chinese still believe that if a person has tanned skin, it means that he works in the field (on the street), and his work is less prestigious. But if white, devoid of even a hint of tan, then this little man is most likely an office worker, and this is already completely different level.



Office workers in China

By the way, none of the Chinese wants to be considered a "peasant, working in the field", so in every possible way they try avoid sunburn, and with the help of a huge variety of cosmetic means to whiten the skin or emphasize its natural whiteness.



Street vendor in China

Light skin is the privilege of kings, and the Chinese are very good at this is remembered ... so well that in order to maintain natural pallor skin go to any, sometimes even the most absurd tricks, in order to avoid exposure to sunlight. Some time ago on the beaches the city of Qingdao, located in the east of the country, began to appear women whose faces, yes there are faces, heads were securely hidden creepy-looking, colored balaclavas.



"Face-kini"

As it turned out later, this beach accessory, to create which the designer was clearly inspired by Spider-Man, complete with traditional one-piece swimsuit, called the "face kini". Rough speaking, bikini for the face. This name consists of two English words: "face" - "face" and "skin" - "skin", which in free translation can be interpreted as "skin on the face" or "veil on the face". For the Chinese "face-kini" - something like a second, artificial skin that protects them from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.



"Face-kini"

Well, the 60-year-old Qingdao Zhang Shifan came up with the “face-kini”. It was she who in 2014 came up with the idea to develop special beach masks for older Chinese women that would protect fragile skin from sunlight, as well as from stings of jellyfish and insects.



Qingdao Zhang Shifan

But, as it turned out, a bad example is contagious, and "face-kini" liked not only ladies of age, but also very young girls, wishing to maintain the whiteness of their skin. And, apparently, the fair sex is not embarrassed by the comicality of their outfit, scare numerous caustic comments and memes on the network. "Face-kini" gained immense popularity in China, and even became part of the beach wardrobe of some Chinese men.



Qingdao Zhang Shifan

What are face kinis made of? Most often beach masks made of lycra, elastane or microfiber. Chsure to the material dries quickly and protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation.



"Face-kini"

The reference product usually consists of two side parts and a small separate piece of fabric in the form of a petal, which connects the mask together. Thus, the "face-kini" fits snugly against head, covers the neck and even the shoulders. There are slits on the front for eyes, nostrils and mouth.



"Face-kini"

In general, the philosophy of the Chinese people regarding whiteness skin, is perfectly characterized by their own proverb: “A drop white will be eclipsed by a hundred shades of grey. Well, or brown ... if so talk about sunburn. The Chinese color white is synonymous with beauty, and for preservation of whiteness of the skin, all means are good.



That is why, going to the beach, Chinese citizens do not are limited exclusively to face-kinis, but they also take special sun umbrellas that are attached to the bike or protective removable sleeves and capes in the style of Batman. A set of Chinese accessories "against sun" can be listed for a long time.



Sun umbrellas

On TV and online, meanwhile, you can see a huge number of commercials advertising funds for "magic skin whitening ": all kinds of creams, ointments and serums, many of which, by the way, still work.



Skin whitening and pigmentation remover

And, you might be surprised, but the girl in the "face-kini" for most Chinese will be considered more attractive than a tanned girl in a regular swimsuit, because under the "face-kini" snow-white skin is almost certainly hiding, and what could be prettier than this?



"Face-kini"