Unlike the belly button test that was purportedly “created by an American scientist as a test for obesity”, this latest meme doesn’t come with a backstory. However, it was still popular enough for netizens to post pictures online within minutes of each other last night.

As seen in the photographs, the rules are simple: fold your hands together palm to palm behind your back, and then see how high you can raise them. Some of them are raised uncomfortably high:

Just because there’s no basis to demonstrate that the “hands folded behind the back” test proves anything, it hasn’t stopped someone from making this helpful chart to distinguish a “loser”, those who can only raise their arms to the bottom marker, from a “goddess” at the top:

While for some this may just be natural flexibility, for others, it’s the result of years of practice, as appears to be the case for these yoga practitioners. However, the inclusion of a cell phone pressed between the palms likely isn’t part of any known yoga technique.

And while the majority of netizens posting photos are women, a few men are getting in on the action as well:

Some netizens are even going three-for-three, posting all three of this year’s selfie memes: the belly button test, the roll of coins on your collar bone, and the hands clasped behind the back:

Of course, if you’re savvy enough, you can always try to dupe others by pulling your hair over your face and pretending that your front is your back; that is if you can figure out the whole thumb issue:

The post China’s Hottest New Internet Meme: Hands Folded Behind The Back appeared first on The Nanfang.

The tape gained notoriety in only 12 hours, and resulted in a line up at the door when the store opened in the morning.

In what could be considered a futile effort to control the situation, UNIQLO prohibited people from taking pictures inside the store, but that didn’t stop scores of Beijingers from taking selfies in front of the Sanlitun spot.

If you haven’t seen the tape, you’re probably too late because it has disappeared from the Chinese internet. Police are investigating the incident, and have warned that broadcasting the video for marketing purposes would be considered illegal because it’s pornographic.

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Last week saw the rise of the “touch your belly button to see if you’re fat” meme on the Chinese internet, but that was last week. Now there’s a new phenomenon to hit the web: selfies of coins balanced on your collarbone.

As with many memes, there’s no clear point to it besides that everyone else is doing it. Even though the number of coins varies with each submission, this meme isn’t a competition to see who can fit the most coins since no one ever mentions the amount when they post them.

The meme first appeared as early as 2013. At the time, it was more of a competition since netizens tried to outdo each other by putting more and more outrageous things there, including durians. Another difference is that the 2013 meme wasn’t an exclusive exhibition for female users to show off their bare necks and plunging necklines.

But we’ll spare you the rhetoric and just show you the latest trend on the Chinese internet. Here are some examples:

All these ways of taking photographs employ the use of a prop that people can use to diffuse attention away from themselves lest they not be seen as being humble enough. As such, the collarbone selfie provides a convenient way to focus on a subject’s chest in a photo, much the same way the bellybutton test provided an acceptable way to focus on one’s bare midriff.

And because some people need a change from all these coins, here’s some non-coin selfies:

The post China’s Sexiest New Internet Meme: A Roll of Coins On Your Collarbone appeared first on The Nanfang.

Called the “belly button test”, or xuanfu (炫腹) in Chinese, it’s as simple to do as it is decisive in its evaluation: if you are able to reach behind your back with your arm and touch your belly button from the other side of your waist, this is supposed to prove that you are thin. If you can’t, this is supposed to reveal the harsh truth that you might need a bit more exercise.

It’s unclear by what scientific standard this is supposed to prove one’s ideal weight; but, media reports like the China Daily reference a mysterious foreign “US scientific researcher” who allegedly came up with the test.

Netizen response to this story has mostly been to answer that they have tried the test, with many admitting they fell beneath the standard. However, as pictures show, there are some that pass this “test”, and are ushering in what may be a new trend of selfies:

We’re left wondering if this is just another impossible beauty standard for women to meet, one that does not favor women with short limbs or limited flexibility. We just hope this doesn’t become a common beauty requirement, as have double eyelids, unbowed legs, or cleavage you can stuff a cell phone into.

The post New Chinese “Belly Button Test” Can Tell If You’re Fat appeared first on The Nanfang.

Wenshan Autonomous Prefecture had been hit by heavy precipitation for a number of days, causing dangerous flood conditions. On May 21, an unidentified child got washed away in a river at A’meng when he fell down a storm drain at a bridge that was under repair. Hampered by conditions and a lack of resources, locals initiated a search and appealed to authorities for help.

When a firefighting team from Yanshan arrived, locals were not impressed with their contribution. Firefighters that were called to the scene were witnessed having their pictures taken instead of aiding in the search for the missing boy, who was later found dead. Photographs of the posing firefighters were posted online and spread through WeChat social media circles.

An unnamed local is reported to have said, “What everyone was hoping to happen didn’t take place. While good-hearted volunteers where out looking for the child’s body, we didn’t see a single firefighter. Meanwhile, right next to a clean firetruck, a disappointing scene was unfolding.”

Many news media are reporting the firefighters took “selfies” of themselves, whereas the eyewitness photos show the firefighters having their pictures taken by a female photographer.

After the online outcry, local police and firefighter authorities conducted an investigation into the incident, which was released on May 24. The report said that two members of the six-man Yanshan County firefighting team sent to aid the search for the missing flood victim were assigned to wait for the arrival of an excavator and a back-up team.

The report explained that the two team members, a soldier and a professional firefighter, are both new recruits and were on their first career assignment. Because of their excitement, the two team members allowed a civilian member of the propaganda bureau to take several photographs of them posing together in front of the firetruck.

The report did not mention any kind of disciplinary action against the two team members, or how the local propaganda department will respond to the incident.

The post Firefighters Criticized for Posing for Pictures During Search for Missing Flood Victim appeared first on The Nanfang.

Vitaliy Raskalov and Vadim Makhorov managed to sneak into the construction site during Chinese New Year, a trick they used to also scale the Shanghai Tower.

One of the more surprising features of the video is that security measures for the construction site include such sophisticated technology as a combination bicycle lock.

We’d never condone illegally trespassing in restricted areas, but the pair have undoubtedly captured some amazing images high over Shenzhen.

And here it is on Youku:

The duo have more amazing photos and videos from the rooftops of Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.

Related:

• Would You Play Here? Photos of a Sky-high Rooftop Basketball Court in China… With No Fence
• Zhejiang School Debuts China’s First Rooftop Running Track
• Residents of Hong Kong’s Shacks in the Sky to be Evicted

The post A View of Shenzhen Like You’ve Never Seen Before appeared first on The Nanfang.

China’s museums and other cultural centers have not yet joined the global movement towards banning the selfie-sticks in public spaces, although this may soon change. The Forbidden City is the first in China to take a stand, saying it wants visitors to put the selfie sticks away, especially when in narrow and enclosed spaces in the museum.

A spokesperson for the Forbidden City said museum staff now have the right to ask visitors to stop using selfie sticks, given the heightened risk to glass exhibit cases and other visitors, particularly during peak tourist times.

Let’s hope that museum staff use this newfound power. If you’re paying for admission to one of the world’s most historic sites, we humbly suggest enjoying it, rather than turning your back and grinning at your phone.

The post Beijing’s Forbidden City Wants You to Put Away Your Selfie Stick appeared first on The Nanfang.

It’s true what they say: Life is what you make it. So while the air crash in Taipei, Taiwan that killed 31 people is a tragedy to many people, to three women at the scene it was just a backdrop for their smiling group photo, no matter how inappropriate it was.

The TransAsia flight scheduled for Quemoy Island crashed shortly after take-off when it was seen colliding with a highway overpass before crashing into the Keeling River. Of the total 58 people on board, 18 are injured and 12 remain unaccounted for.

READ: Incredible Images from Deadly Passenger Plane Crash This Morning in Taipei

The photo, first published by Hong Kong’s controversy-courting Apple Daily, shows three smiling women posing together as a fourth takes their picture as boats on the Keeling River behind them can be seen trying to recover crash victims. One of the three women is even holding up a “split finger” hand sign, the ubiquitous gesture seen in photograph poses in Asia.

Erroneously called a “selfie” by many reports, the incident has outraged many Chinese netizens who took offense to the inappropriateness of the women. One user commented, “There has always been these types of people that are numb and without any humanity!” Another asked, “My countrymen, where has your inner essence gone to? Where is your compassion?My countrymen, where has your inner essence gone to? Where is your compassion?“

News of the crash has gotten the attention of many mainlanders after it was revealed that the majority of passengers – 31 – are from from the mainland.

A similar outrage was directed at the Philippines in 2011 when eight people died after a bus full of Hong Kong tourists was taken hostage. Published photos showed smiling Filipinos – including police officers – standing in front of the shot-out bus, something for which many Chinese netizens took as a national insult. “It is a loss of humanity when I see the smile on the face of the Philippine police when they take the photos,” one person wrote.

The post Tourists Use Taiwan Plane Crash as Photo Backdrop appeared first on The Nanfang.

Large, doe-like eyes; smooth, porcelain skin; a tapered chin on an almond face—these features can be seen in the many selfies taken by China’s younger generation, especially girls.

But with the need to adhere to a standard of beauty that keeps rising, some women manipulate their images in order to look the part. They use photo booths, Photoshop, apps, and even cameras with special features to achieve their idea of perfect beauty. But now, there’s an app that does the opposite: removes the touch-ups to show what’s truly underneath.

Primo is a Japanese app that reportedly removes any enhancements to an altered image and restores a picture of a person to its original state. This means that Primo will undo the effects of eyes that have been enlarged, and skin tone and teeth that have been lightened.

READ: How to Attract a Chinese Man Part 1: A Cartoon You is a Sexier You

So far, the app is only available on iOS, but users say it helps them not feel “cheated” by images they see. “This software is simply out of this world; never again will I have to worry about being tricked by a picture of a girl,” one commenter said. Another opined, “Very useful; those people that would present a fake appearance to the world should be more careful now.”

Of course, applying this on photos that haven’t been touched up also gives interesting results.

To provide a clearer explanation of how this app works, here is an example:

Does a person simply look too good to be true? Let the Primo app do its work:

Primo is also being used on famous people:

With huge influx of selfies you have to wade through when using Chinese social media, it appears there’s finally a way to look someone in the eyes and see them for who they really are.

Photos: Xinhua, the Nanfang

The post Popular New App in China Removes Selfie Touch-Ups to Show What’s Really Underneath appeared first on The Nanfang.

READ: Chinese Line Up Globally To Buy – And Then Sell – the iPhone 6

Since its release seven days ago, over 2,000 iPhones 6 have been seized at Luohu border customs in Shenzhen. Nearby in Huaqiang North, a mecca for iPhone resales, the iPhone 6 is currently selling for RMB 6,800.

Meanwhile in Shanghai, 335 iPhones 6 have been seized at Pudong International Airport during the same period.

READ: Unreleased Hong Kong and US Versions of iPhone 6
Already on Sale in Beijing for US$4,500

Some people just don’t see what the fuss is about. China Daily reports that despite costing around $1,000, the iPhone 6 is only worth between $200 and $247 in spare parts. Furthermore, the cost of labor is between $4 and $4.50 per phone.

But that’s some people. Others will do anything to get their hands on Apple’s latest gadget, with the iPhone “selfie” spreading on Chinese social networks.

With this much hype and anticipation, it isn’t hard to see why people won’t try to exploit the situation. Unfortunately an unlucky Wuhan employee was cheated by his very own boss.

The man, Xiaoliu, was promised that if he and his coworkers completed a project on time, they would all each be rewarded with “Apple 6”. As it turned out, this meant a reward of six apples.

We assume, after giving Xiaoliu his prize, the boss said:  “How do you like dem apples?”

Related:

• Chinese iPhone Buyers Brawl in the US as Local Launch Nears
• Massive Recruitment Drive Underway in China To Build Apple’s Next iPhone
• No Mooncakes, No work! Workers at Apple’s Supplier in Dongguan on Strike
• Shenzhen: The Cradle of the iPhone, and Also its Huge Resale Market
• Woman Claims iPhone 5s Burned Her Face, And Has Photos to Prove It

Photos: Shenzhen Evening Report (2), Hong Kong Culture Exchange Net, China Daily, Weibo (2)

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