The Sichuan earthquake destroyed cities, killed tens of thousands of people, and shook buildings as far away as Thailand. When a young woman posted nude photos of herself on the internet and called for donations for victims, it also sent shock waves through cyberspace.
Months after the May 12 earthquake, Xiao Yun - or 'Little Cloud' as her nickname means - admitted she stripped not only to help quake victims (she asked people to donate to the charity of their choice) but to show off her body.
'My starting point was well-meaning. I wasn't trying to cheat people or stir things up. I didn't think the results or the impact would be so big,' she said in her first media interview.
Xiao Yun, 19, defended herself by saying many on the mainland were doing the same thing. 'Lots of girls are doing this. There are many photos like mine. There are lots of beautiful women on the internet.'
Instead of using the internet to push for intellectual freedom or democratic ideals, some are merely seeking the freedom to post nude photos of themselves, changing China in their own little way. 'It's for my own entertainment. I like to take sexy photos because there are many different kinds,' Xiao Yun said.
A look at any Chinese internet portal verifies that she is not alone. Several years ago, a fad of young women posing for revealing photos at commercial studios swept the nation's major cities. The internet has made personal vanity easier, cheaper, and much more public.