As China continues its opening-up policy apace, the nation is becoming just so metrosexual.

And the latest fashion trend for guys? Well the brassiere, of course.

The fad for male bras first started in Japan and has now migrated to China.

The bras became hot items on Taobao.com, one of China's biggest online shopping Websites, about a week ago and the orders keep coming.

More than 160 varieties of male bras are on sale from 40-plus online shops across the country.

Prices range from 12 yuan (US$1.75) to 300 yuan, depending on color, design, lacy frills, and, of course, quality.

Data from Taobao.com has shown total trading volume in the bras reached 10,000 yuan in just a week.

The trend is timely as wei niang, the Chinese name for cross-dressers, are becoming more prevalent.

Some wei niang received a warm audience response during the recent national television talent program, "Super Boy Reality Show," particularly trendsetter contestant Liu Zhu.

Jin Huashi, a Shanghai-based online seller of male bras, said he last week began importing the products from Japan and selling them via Taobao.com.

Jin said he saw a great potential as the first batch of 50 bras, at 299 yuan each, had sold out in three days.

"I thought this new idea might not be accepted by Chinese people who are generally conservative but I was wrong," Jin said.

And the male bras are not just for the cross-dressing brigade - fatties are ordering, too. There are types available for portly dudes with sagging breasts and even for skinny men who want to "strengthen chest muscles," according bra blurbs.

The male bras have led to heated domestic online discussions, being variously described as "hilarious," "insulting to men," and "sissy."

But sometimes, just a good old sense of humor goes a long way.

A female Netizen commenting on a Japanese Website, with tongue firmlyin cheek, said: "I know a lot of menwith bigger boobs than mine, so why shouldn't they wear bras?"

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