A Chinese micro-blogging site is abuzz with a bizarre new invention that promises to help young girls fend off perverts - hairy stockings.

An image going viral on Sina Weibo - the Chinese equivalent of Twitter - purports to promote 'hairy stockings'.

The picture shows a pair of legs hairy from thigh to ankle but non-hairy feet - leaving the gender of the subject open to debate.

"Super sexy, summertime anti-pervert full-leg-of-hair stockings, essential for young girls going out," the post reads, according to trend watcher ChinaSMACK. The leg trend has attracted a mixed public response, Courier Mail reported.

"Essential for the subway?" asks one person. Another user is not convinced the trend will take off. "If it has come to this, why not just wear pants?" he wrote.