For more than two years, a young woman in Qingdao of Shandong Province has hidden herself at home for fear that people might see her nose, which was deformed by a dog bite.

In September 2004, Zhang was playing with a pet dog at home when the dog suddenly jumped and bit her nose. Though Zhang recovered after intensive treatment in hospital, she lost the tip of her nose in the accident.

Since then, Zhang became uncommunicative and refused to go out. She has considered plastic surgery, but always gave up at the last minute due to a shortage of courage.

Qilu Evening News