Li Fangyu’s mainland hosting gig halted on the spot; ladies’ “mesh bikinis” leave her in stitches

Reporter You T-Ru / Taipei reporting

The sweet and vivacious TV host Li Fangyu has a fresh and energetic presenting style. She once served as the field host for “Taiwanese Feet Touring the Mainland,” visiting eight provinces in China. Her unique and captivating hosting always made viewers feel as if they were right there on the scene. Through her work, she absorbed the local flavors of different regions, and when it comes to travel, she can not only discuss history but also spot the “unbelievable” aspects of a place with her keen observations.


▲ The charming and cute Li Fangyu also took a selfie on the streets of Tianjin. (Photo / Provided by Li Fangyu)

Remember those aunties in Qingdao a few months ago who wrapped themselves head to toe in black outfits and wore masks, exposing only their eyes, nose, and mouth, looking like terrorists in “facekinis”? Well, aunties in Tianjin have come up with something new this time — a “mesh bikini” that made the sweet TV host Li Fangyu stop her live broadcast midway and burst out laughing on the street.

Mesh bikini? What’s that? Upon hearing Li Fangyu introduce it for the first time, you’d probably ask that exact question. “Let me tell you, the ‘mesh bikini’ I’m talking about is way cooler than the ‘facekini.’ It covers your whole face, and you can still easily block the sun without showing your facial features,” Li Fangyu said proudly.


▲ Wearing a sun hat and a black veil over the face — that’s what Li Fangyu calls the “mesh bikini.” (Photo / Provided by Li Fangyu)

At first glance at what Li Fangyu calls the “mesh bikini,” you might exclaim in surprise — aren’t these veiled women the legendary “ladies of luxury”? These women wear European-style sun hats, have colorful veils around their faces, and ride bicycles through the streets — a unique sight in Tianjin, also known as the “mesh bikini.”

Tianjin, once home to multiple foreign concessions, still preserves many beautiful Baroque-style buildings in its urban areas. During one shoot, the director asked Li Fangyu to stand in front of a European-style building and introduce it to the audience: “On the streets of Tianjin, there are lots of European-style buildings, and the ladies are also wearing Western-style sun hats — it really feels like you’re abroad!” Just as she was speaking in her usual light and casual tone, she suddenly spotted a “lady of luxury” cycling toward the camera in a bizarre outfit. Yes, she was the iconic Tianjin sight: the “mesh bikini lady.”


▲ The filming crew had to halt shooting temporarily due to the appearance of the mesh bikini lady. (Photo / Provided by Li Fangyu)

“She was wearing this beautiful big-flowered sun hat, but her face was covered with this strange ‘black veil,’ making her look like a thief on a bicycle wearing a sun hat. I just couldn’t bring myself to call her a ‘lady of luxury,’” Li Fangyu explained. To avoid misleading the audience, the filming team had to stop shooting temporarily until the “mesh bikini lady” had passed. Only then could Li Fangyu resume her calm tone and continue filming.

“Locals use the ‘veil’ to protect against sandstorms,” Li Fangyu added. Tianjin’s sandstorms are very harmful to people’s respiratory systems, so to guard against wind and sand as well as UV rays, locals use face veils to block the dust. This provides partial protection and allows them to see the road clearly while cycling. For Tianjin’s “ladies of luxury,” this thin yet strange veil is an essential tool for going out.

“But still, I think some of the ladies’ combinations are really odd,” Li Fangyu said. For example, a brightly colored sun hat paired with a black veil, or colors that completely clash. Faced with this, Li Fangyu could only shrug and say, “Well, everyone has their own sense of style, right?”


▲ There’s even a pink full-face mesh bikini — truly an eye-opener. (Photo / Provided by Li Fangyu)