Men Exposing Backs in the Park During Heatwave... How Far Will the 'Beijing Bikini' Trend Go?

Heatwave in Eastern China with Temperatures Around 40 Degrees
Myth: "Sunbathing with Back Exposed When Hot is Good"
Despite Criticism as "Uncivilized Behavior," No Way to Stop It

As temperatures soar around 40 degrees Celsius in eastern and some inland parts of China, the scorching heat continues, drawing attention to people resting in parks with only their backs exposed. On the 12th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that "sunbathing in parks has recently emerged as a new health trend in Shanghai, China."

[Image source=Weibo capture]

Recently, Shanghai parks have been bustling with people sunbathing with their backs exposed like a group of seals. They visit the parks before 10 a.m., when the sunlight is relatively less intense, or after 4 p.m., bringing yoga mats or chairs. After finding a sunny spot, they lift their tops all the way up over their heads to rest, and some women even remove their underwear to fully expose their backs.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, sunbathing with the back exposed during the hottest time of the year is believed to drive out dampness and coldness from the body. One woman told local media, "I tried sunbathing in the park with my back completely exposed for several days, and it was more comfortable than a sauna and effective in expelling moisture," adding, "The clean air in the park is so good that I no longer sunbathe at home."

Some citizens have expressed discomfort, pointing out that walking around in parks with their tops off disrupts public order and is uncivilized behavior. However, there are no regulations prohibiting this, so there is no way to stop it.

The so-called 'Beijing Bikini' attire. [Image source=Captured from Baidu]

Previously, locals in China, unable to endure the heat, drew attention by walking around public places with their shirts lifted above their stomachs, a style dubbed the "Beijing Bikini." At the recently concluded "Qingdao Global Beer Festival" in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on the 11th, men wearing Beijing Bikini attire appeared as usual. While some locals defend it as a way to cope with the heatwave, criticism labeling it as uncivilized behavior continues. Some local governments are reportedly cracking down with fines as part of focused enforcement.