
In France, the burkini ban has ignited fierce debate - but women in China don’t understand all the fuss is about.

In 2014, Zhang Shifan, a 60-year-old entrepreneur from the seaside city of Qingdao made worldwide headlines for creating a ‘facekini’ - a stretchy mask designed to protect beachgoers faces from the sun in China, where fair skin is prized.

When Chinese women go to the beach, they hide under umbrellas, pile on layers of clothing, wear wide-brimmed hats - or put on a facekini, which shields their entire body from the sun.

Zhang's sixth facekini collection features the world's most endangered animals, including giant pandas, alligators and Siberian tigers.

Chinese women model the sixth-generation facekini designs on a beach in Qingdao City, in China's Shandong province

While the burkini ban on France's southeast beach towns has brewed controversy across the world, Chinese women's have been wearing similar swimsuits since 2014

The new facekini designs are animal-centric, featuring the world's 10 most endangered species - including the giant panda, Chinese alligator and Siberian tiger

Zhang Shifan, 60, invented the facekini and courted customers by promising to shield their bodies from dangerous jellyfish stings

They are popular in Zhang’s hometown of Qingdao, which boasts a population of 9 million, as well as a number of other seaside towns.

While the first generation of facekinis were strictly headwear, the suits now offer full-body cover.

The suits come in a variety of colours and patterns.

The cover-all suits are perfect for Chinese women who wish to avoid tan lines at all costs.

While the facekini initially only covered swimmers' heads, the new designs cover entire bodies

Designer Zhang Shifan, 60, poses with her female and male models on the beach

While the suits have drawn ridicule around the world since 2014, their popularity among Chinese customers has only increased

Holes are cut in the skin-tight elastic fabric for eyes, nostrils, mouth and, in some cases, pony tails

Zhang attracted customers by convincing them they needed to protect themselves from ultraviolet rays and dangerous jellyfish.

Holes are cut in the skin-tight elastic fabric for eyes, nostrils, mouth and, in some cases, pony tails.

Despite the worldwide ridicule the suits have attracted, the suits - which were initially only purchased by middle-aged women - are now popular among younger women and men.