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.”

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.