Chinese youth make sun protection masks from giant lotus leaves, ignite online hilarity
Young people in China have taken self-made sun protection to the next level with their latest innovation: full-face masks made from lotus leaves.
People from southern Chinese provinces, such as Zhejiang, Sichuan and Fujian, are making their own sun protection masks with lotus leaves they pick from roadside ponds.
Viral videos show them covering their faces with the giant leaves, which are at least twice the size of their faces, using hats or helmets with straps to wrap and tighten the leaves.
Scary sun-protectors: The giant lotus leaves are kept in place with hats and helmets. Photo: QQ.com
Eye and nose holes are poked through the leaves to allow seeing and breathing.
One practitioner from southeastern China's Fujian province, surnamed Yin, said he had planned to wear a beauty mask to prevent suntan before spotting lotus leaves near his home.
He said he found them very effective: 'Everywhere except my face has become tanned!'
Yin also praised the sun protection tool as natural and free of charge.
The videos have created hilarious reactions online.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
A psychologist explains why your brain gives you a gut feeling – and if you can trust it
Have you ever met someone and felt an instant connection? How about immediate dislike? Some of us might think this feeling has something to do with fate or destiny. But psychologist Andrew Stock has a more scientific explanation. That gut feeling means our brain is working efficiently. It can be described by a concept called cognitive efficiency, which refers to using the least amount of energy to perform a task well. Stock is the president of the Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong and a founding partner at Therapy Partners. The psychologist explained that our brains learn to save energy and time by making quick decisions and judgments, often without us even realising it. He called it a 'short cut'. Scientists explain how volcanic ash turned a human brain into glass Why does the brain create short cuts? The brain constantly processes enormous amounts of information. It needs to use this information to make instant decisions. To handle this massive workload, the brain has trained itself to be as productive as possible. Instead of analysing every detail in a situation, our minds use short cuts to help us focus on the most important details, Stock explained. These short cuts help us quickly respond to new situations based on our previous experience. 'For example, when I see a dog barking loudly, I instantly step back, assuming it could be dangerous. Figuring out if it's friendly or not potentially comes later,' he said. Our brains are constantly processing information as quickly as possible. Photo: Shutterstock We even make snap judgments about people based on a small amount of information – like how they may look, speak or act when we first meet them. This can cause us to treat others differently, and we might not even realise it. For example, we might be friendlier to someone who dresses the same way we do while avoiding someone who seems different. 'When you get a gut feeling about a stranger, pause and consider the actual facts you have about them,' the psychologist said. Compare those facts with any assumptions you might have made before you come to a conclusion, he said. How can Hong Kong teens stress less and what apps are available? Avoiding false judgments You can try talking to friends or family to get different points of view. We can also practise empathy by imagining ourselves in someone else's shoes. Think about the other person's feelings, their situation or the reasons behind their actions. 'Perhaps some of your peers can't buy the newest Labubu charm because their parents earn less, but it's important to remember that their worth and coolness aren't defined by what they own,' Stock said. He also suggested making an effort to talk to people who come from different backgrounds to learn more before forming an opinion. Ask open-ended questions and encourage the other person to share more about themselves. Listen carefully and pay attention to things that do not match your first impression. Sometimes your brain might jump to a conclusion that isn't always accurate. Photo: Shutterstock It is also helpful to reflect on times when your gut feeling was wrong. This helps you realise that your instincts are not always accurate. 'Remember, your brain's short cuts are there to help, but they're not always right,' Stock said. 'Taking a little extra time to get to know someone can help you see them more clearly and can lead to better friendships, less conflict and a more open-minded view of the world.' Reflect: Have you ever had a gut feeling about something? To test your understanding of this story, download our printable worksheet or answer the questions in the quiz below.
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese girl vomits live worms for month; doctors finally find tiny moths to blame
An eight-year-old girl in China who had been vomiting live worms for a month discovered that the cause of her ills was a common household problem. Despite seeing many doctors, the unidentified girl from Yangzhou City, eastern China's Jiangsu province, could not pinpoint the reason why she was throwing up. Her father said she would vomit a handful of 1cm-long worms each time. No one else in the family suffered the same problem. The tiny moths are particularly prevalent in southern China because of the humid summer weather. Photo: A doctor at the Children's Hospital of Soochow University in Jiangsu came to their rescue. The doctor, Zhang Bingbing, advised them to have the rarely seen worm checked by the local Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. There, staff immediately recognised the worm, matching it with worms they had once found in a 60-year-old woman. It turns out to be the larva of drain flies, which are also known as moth flies. The insects are commonly found in damp interior places, such as the toilet and the kitchen. They more often appear in southern China, which has humid summer weather.
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese youth make sun protection masks from giant lotus leaves, ignite online hilarity
Young people in China have taken self-made sun protection to the next level with their latest innovation: full-face masks made from lotus leaves. People from southern Chinese provinces, such as Zhejiang, Sichuan and Fujian, are making their own sun protection masks with lotus leaves they pick from roadside ponds. Viral videos show them covering their faces with the giant leaves, which are at least twice the size of their faces, using hats or helmets with straps to wrap and tighten the leaves. Scary sun-protectors: The giant lotus leaves are kept in place with hats and helmets. Photo: Eye and nose holes are poked through the leaves to allow seeing and breathing. One practitioner from southeastern China's Fujian province, surnamed Yin, said he had planned to wear a beauty mask to prevent suntan before spotting lotus leaves near his home. He said he found them very effective: 'Everywhere except my face has become tanned!' Yin also praised the sun protection tool as natural and free of charge. The videos have created hilarious reactions online.
