Making umbrellas manly is simple: Cast a chivalrous shadow

Women's faces are often found in the shade cast by the umbrellas they carry on China's sunny days.

But it's rare to find Chinese men blocking UV rays with one.

I don't use parasols for staying dry during downpours and just deal with sweltering climates I encounter. But I recently considered joining the few male "sunbrella" bearers during my time in Fujian province's capital Fuzhou, known as "China's No 1 furnace".