Want to spend time on the beach, but worried about darkening your pearly-white complexion? In Sanya, the whities showed no fear for the sun (which we eventually paid for dearly with awkward sunburns), but Chinese beachgoers were endlessly creative in finding ways to keep the sun off their skin. Here are a few of my favorites:
The classic: An umbrella can always double as a parasol, temporarily folded away when it's time for pictures
Full coverage: If you want to sit on the beach and umbrella-protection isn't enough, the next step in sun-protection is to sit under the coconut trees wearing a wide-rimmed hat and mask that fully covers your face
The camper: Tents are for sale everywhere along the beach, and provide another sun-proof but very warm option for full protection from the sun
The ostrich: Having your friends bury you in sand may be a creative but less effective way to keep your skin safe
The alternative: Some beachgoers decided to embrace rather than fight the sun, and joined the sizeable group of darkly tanned nudists at the far end of the beach