Strange Things in China, Part 2

(Surprise!  I'm still in China!  Still in Xuchang, actually.  God only knows why.)

Last summer (I know, it was a while ago) I took my dad traveling around the country for a couple weeks, and one thing that seemed to really get him laughing was a rather strange-but-common sight during the summertime here: the tendency of Chinese men to roll their shirts up above their bellies on a hot day, no matter when or where (or who) they are.

Now, I wish I had a few more nice (?) photos of this phenomenon, but at the time I was not really interested in taking them, for two main reasons: (a) I was pretty accustomed to the sight already, and (b) I felt a bit strange taking pictures of men's bellies.

The most remarkable thing about the whole style, though, is the way in which it is worn: It doesn't matter if it's a rock-hard six-pack (it almost never is) or a nice flabby cushion, it gets put out there completely unabashedly, even rather proudly.  As if I just can't get enough of watching  a bunch of middle-aged men walking around poking-out and lovingly patting their bare fat stomachs (and probably smoking and spitting, too!).

There have certainly been many who have noticed this phenomenon (edit: there was even an article in the LA Times!), and I have heard two big theories from my Chinese friends on why it is so prevalent.  The first stems from a culturally ingrained notion of one's stomach temperature being very important for one's health:  I know several Chinese people who have pretty strong feelings about regulating their tummy-temp, and most belly-bearers seem to give this as their primary motive.  (And, to add a personal anecdote, my girlfriend won't eat ice cream because she thinks it makes her stomach too cold.)

The other reason comes from a perfectly healthy, rather slim (but definitely not skinny) friend of mine, who will occasionally decry his unfortunate lack of a good, manly belly.  I'm not sure what on Earth has gotten into some people's heads around here, but apparently "you just don't really count as being a 'man' unless you have a belly".

Well, keep on rockin' it guys.  Hope it works out for you.

(In order to make up for the required picture of a fat middle-aged man at the beginning of this post, I present you with a picture of a pretty girl as well.)