What would you do if you have 5,000 bras and you can't use them because you are a man? Build a bra museum!

That is what Chen Qingzu, a resident of Yachen in Sanya, has in mind - to build China's first and probably only bra museum.

For more than 20 years, Chen has collected at least 5,000 bras - of different style, colors and sizes - from students of the different colleges and university in China. He didn't buy the bras, he just asked female students to donate some of their extra brassieres.

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Chen's collection features bras of different colors, some with lace, others with unique designs, transparent straps, no straps, see-throughs, red, pink, white, with and without padding, anything one can think of when it comes to bras, Chen has them all.

Chen, a health worker in Yachen, said he had been making his rounds in at least 30 different colleges and universities to promote awareness of female health and breast cancer. Every time he talks about breast cancer, Chen said he also asks for donations, in the form of bras.

"It's an odd hobby, according to my friends, but I find this rather an effective way to send a message about breast health and cancer prevention," said Chen.

The collection, Chen said, will show how bras in China evolved in nearly two decades and he hopes that his more than 5,000 bras will also help in the further studies on how to prevent breast cancer.

Chen said by building a bra museum, more women will be informed about the importance of regular breast checkup.

However, the 45-year-old health worker said he might wait until his collection reaches 10,000 before finally deciding on building a museum.

The local council Sanya expresses support on Chen's plan and even considers donating a building that can be converted into a bra museum.