Losing my shirt over the local dress code

I've always enjoyed a good old-fashioned epiphany. As I get older, they happen less often but I had one the other day when a serious-looking chap in uniform rode up to me on his bicycle while I was in the park and told me, by way of mime, to put my shirt on.

While I would never dream of taking it off on the street - here in Beijing or anywhere else - I had no idea that a bare male chest was inappropriate in a Chinese park.

Now, after asking my workmates, I realize it is indeed considered tacky - if not downright disgusting - to expose one's man-boobies to the ravages of the sun. I won't do it again, of course, and I apologize to anyone I inadvertently offended, but I've got to tell you, it will be incredibly hard, resisting the sun's warm caress, being as I am, a northern European who feels somewhat cheated out of the sun's affections.