France bikini ban mocked by Social media users. PHOTOS

France's burkini ban has been mocked by social media users around the world pondering what local officials would do if Chinese beachgoers turned up for a dip on the Riviera in facekinis.

The 'facekini' face mask for swimming first made headlines in 2012 after it became available to the Chinese mass market in 2006. It covers almost every inch of the face leaving only holes of eyes, nose and mouth - making it much more of a disguise than a burkini. 

Despite looking, at times, terrifying, they have been incredibly popular in China and in particular, in the city of Qingdao where it was created. The design has been credited for being better than factor 50 for sun protection and also prevents the wearer from being stung by jellyfish.

On Chinese social media the Weibo account of People's Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper, mocked the French ban while taking a swipe at Western governments that criticise China.