This summer, unprecedented heatwaves have swept across the Chinese mainland, challenging the conventional understanding of the season. Since early July, 24 weather stations across provinces like Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui recorded their highest-ever July temperatures—and even the typically cooler northeastern regions have felt the scorch.
Experts attribute this early onset of humid heat to a subtropical high-pressure system shifting northward prematurely, turning social feeds into virtual saunas. For many residents, the humidity compounds the intensity of the heat, raising concerns about public health and urban livability.
Reinventing Cooling in the City
Once rare in coastal and northern cities, air conditioning now tops the list of urban priorities. Local authorities are weighing plans to install AC units in public buildings—student dormitories, classrooms, community centers—and roll out new guidelines for outdoor workers. Heat combined with high humidity can impede sweat evaporation, elevating heatstroke risks for construction crews, sanitation teams, and delivery staff.
Meanwhile, innovation is spilling into public spaces. In Wuhan, all underground subway stations have become ad hoc cooling centers, holding temperatures around 27 °C. Chongqing, Nanchang, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen are following suit—transforming air-raid shelters, metro stops, and even vacant hotel lobbies into temperature-controlled havens.
Beating the Heat Safely
Take these simple steps to stay cool and healthy: hydrate with water, skip sugary or alcoholic drinks, and seek shade during peak hours. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made from breathable fabrics, plus a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. If you lack air conditioning at home, keep blinds drawn during the day, open windows at night, and enjoy a cool shower to reset your core temperature.
Listen to your body: if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or suddenly stop sweating, find a cooler spot immediately and rest. Check on vulnerable neighbors and loved ones—especially the elderly, children, and those with health conditions—to keep everyone safe as the heatwave continues.
Reference(s):
China's scorching summer: How a nation adapts to unprecedented heat
cgtn.com
