How people escape scorching heat in China

APD

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By APD Writer He Wei

Major Heat, the 12th of the 24 solar terms, means most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year. The orange alerts for high temperature were issued one after another across China.

China’s national meteorological center issued an orange alert for high temperature on July 22, with the temperature of above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of northwest and east provinces.

Thus, Chines people found a lot of creative ways to keep cool.

People in heavy winter jackets are playing Mahjong in icehouse

The temperature as high as 40 degrees Celsius force citizens in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, seek shelter in an illuminated icehouse

“I feel so good to play mahjong here, the air conditioner at home is not a relief,” said a woman player.

“But I can’t stay here for a long time though I wear a heavy jacket. My legs are very cold. I will leave here soon after I finished another two rounds,” she added.

Not only in the icehouse, playing the board game under water is another amusing way to cool off. Locals in Chongqing Municipality in southwest China resort to this funny way.

Elderly people and their grandchildren in Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei province avoid the summer heat in the metro station.

These mentioned above are less creative than what will be discussed next.

Adorable baby wears watermelon outfit to cool down.

Imaging you live in a dormitory without air conditioner. Chinese college students have found their own way of avoiding the scorching heat.

Thanks to advanced technologies, people nowadays could escape the heat easily. But what about the ancient people?

In the past, ancient Chinese people also enjoyed "ice cream" and specially prepared fruits in summer.

crushed ice [Photo/VCG]

Su Shan

Su Shan (酥山) is a dish that looks like crushed ice with milk and butter.

Poet Wang Lingran from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) described how people made and enjoyed su shan in his poem Ode to Su He Shan.

Iced juice. [Photo/VCG]

Ice and iced beverages

Although there were no fridges in ancient times, iceboxes to store ice cubes in summer had become very common in rich families by the Tang Dynasty. At that time, people either had ice water or crunched shaved ice. People could easily buy iced beverages on the street during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Summer Resorts

The summer resorts were constructed for the ancient royal family, which will move there to escape the hottest season, and now the imperial summer resorts remain open as famous scenic spots.

Kangxi Emperor’s(1654-1722 ) Mountain Resort in the city of Chengde, north China

The daily necessities in summer were also specially-designed.

The pillow made of jade is popular among the rich in ancient China because it keeps them cool.

Bamboo wife, a hollow bamboo bolster roughly the size of a human body

People like holding a Bamboo wife while sleeping in hot summer, which is also known for its cooling function.

If people can’t afford a bamboo wife. They may choose a wax gourd instead.