These photos were taken at the Shenyang part on June 24.

The regional Chinese "Beautiful Buttocks Contest" contests were held in Beijing on June 18 and more competitions would be staged in Xi'an, Wuhan and Shenzhen.

The winner got the equivalent of $600 and a place in the finals on December 24.

The contest was arranged by Zhang Zhichao, an employee in charge of the contest from Saipu Fitness Club. It is said to be a way to show that women can train and participate in fitness too.

While some say it is funny that "In a culturally conservative country where just 20 years ago wearing a bikini on the beach would draw a woman disapproving stares, young female contestants now sport skimpy thongs and twerk their backsides at a shiny shopping centre", but the organizers say that's what they are changing- the view that the Chinese are not modern and they prohibit women from this kind of activities.

This is the winner of the contest in Shenyang. It was the butt... I mean contestant number 302.

Mr Zhang said each candidate was required to have "a natural bum" without having any buttock augmentation.

A seven-member jury judged the contestants by the "roundness, curviness and firmness" of their bums in Shenyang.

The contest was soon called the "Chinese Miss Bum Bum" or "a rip off" and while Zhang Zhichao says he "never heard" of the Brazilian festival the accusations still stand.

What do you think, is this really a show of China changing or a publicity stunt?