"The first Naked Bike Ride will be held on June 25 for boys or girls, half-naked or naked. Please contact us if you are interested!" This announcement, made by a bicycle shop in Guangzhou's University Town, caused a splash on the internet Tuesday.
An employee of the shop, known online as "the bloody wild donkey," initiated the ride, saying his idea was backed by the store manager before he posted the ad.
"I planned to have 10 to 30 riders, but 30 students, all male, applied on the first day!" he said. "It's a shame that we don't have any brave female applicants yet, and I doubt everybody is ready to get totally naked."
"The donkey" said there were many more people, either through phone calls, internet chat or online posts, making enquiries about the ride. "'What is this naked ride thing for?' That's the question we get a lot," he said.
The naked bike ride has been a popular event in western countries since 2004, and the purpose, according to "donkey," was originally to promote green transportation and the reduction of carbon emissions.
"Large cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin have all held naked rides. So have some private clubs," he said. "Guangzhou is a crowded city, and busy traffic pollutes the air outside University Town, so it's a ride that means a lot to local cyclists."
According to the plan, riders will start and end their trip at University Town's Beiting Plaza after one lap around the town's inner ring road.
Since some cyclists may be shy, the ride will not be held in broad daylight, but start at 8 p.m.
When asked whether he will be one of the totally naked riders, "the donkey" replied evasively: "Of course, I am open-minded. People can be half-naked or use body paint if they find it too hard to be naked around strangers.'
His line was echoed by the Cycling Alliance of South China Universities, who said the idea of being completely naked had become a growing concern since the message was released on Tuesday.
The alliance played it safe, encouraging participants in the event to go half-naked or use body paint to attract attention.
This is not the first time for the University Town to have a naked bike ride, said Jiang Ping, from the Cycling Alliance.
"Last time, riders only had their shirts off, showing their upper bodies – not as extreme as this one," Jiang said.
Some applicants have no intention of violating that tradition. A student surnamed Zeng said he would only take off his shirt for the ride. "It's not a big deal," he said. "Girls have seen more in a swimming pool. I won't feel embarrassed."
But another applicant, with the web name "Da Zhan," said he is likely to be totally naked on the 25th. "It is not about showcasing your body. It's an expression to raise concerns about our environment."
As an international metropolis, Guangzhou citizens should be more tolerant of events such as the naked bike ride, which is aimed at promoting green transportation, some environmentalists said.
"The organizer should be prepared for criticism, and the public should not only focus on the idea of being naked, but also on environmentally-friendly modes of transport," said Chen Zhijun, head of an environmental Non-Governmental Organization.
