A solar-powered charger for mobile phones on the handlebars of a gold share bike in Hangzhou city, East China's Zhejiang province, June 9, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Some netizens said people riding such bikes need to wear gold armor to fit in.

"To some extent, gold signifies Chinese people's worship of fortune. Three years ago, Shanghai introduced a batch of gold taxis and they were chased after," said Hu Yijun, a 45-year-old junior high school teacher in Shanghai.

But others said they disliked the color.

"If my boyfriend rode such a bike to meet me, I'd refuse to hang out with him," an internet user with the name "Being together" wrote on her microblog.