Chinese men have been banned from sporting so-called "Beijing bikinis" after they were deemed "uncivilised" by authorities in the city of Jinan.

Each summer men across China roll their T-shirts up above their stomachs as cities swelter in the heat.

The cooling method is said to be based on a theory in traditional Chinese medicine, where exposing one's midriff helps air out of the warm "chi" energy around the internal organs.

But authorities in Jinan, a city of around 8.7 million people in Shandong province, have ordered people not to adapt their tops into Beijing bikinis.

The notice also states that members of the public should not remove their shirts while outside.


Jinan authorities made the demand as temperatures rose to a sweltering 36C (96F) in the city this week.

Politicians are aiming to rectify such "uncivilised behaviour" with, according to the notice, people in the city complaining about the "uncivilised phenomenon".

The ruling, which is aimed at improving the image of the city, also targets public bickering, jumping queues, littering and "uncivilised dog walking".

The order has attracted a backlash from social media users, with one person commenting: "Being shirtless cuts more carbon emissions than turning on AC (air conditioning)."

Another added: "Let the old people be free."

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A man was fined around $7 (£5.60) for shopping shirtless in a supermarket in the coastal city of Tianjin near Beijing in May.

The city introduced a regulation banning going topless earlier this year.