Extreme Heatwave in China with Temperatures Reaching 44°C Triggers Unconventional Measures Dealing with the Heat

The photos below depict people in China enduring a sweltering heatwave. One shows people swimming in a pool so crowded that the water’s surface is obscured. Another depicts a woman standing on the beach, completely covered in protective clothing to shield her skin from the intense sunlight. A third photo captures a boy making a fried egg on a heated manhole cover. 

 

These images reflect the unique ingenuity and adaptability of people coping with extreme heat. The impact of this record-breaking heatwave is even greater than what Japan has experienced. 

 

“In China, temperatures have reached the highest levels since records began in 1961. In eastern Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, central Anhui province, and western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, temperatures have risen close to 44°C daily. While droughts have caused extensive damage to 3.17 million hectares of crops, unprecedented heavy rains and floods have led to severe situations, such as the breach of the levee at Dongting Lake in central China. Over 30 million people have been affected by natural disasters like heatwaves, and more than 300 people have lost their lives.” (reports a local media journalist)

 

China’s “heatwave measures” are quite unique. When droughts continue and heatwave warnings are issued, missiles filled with artificial rainfall agents are launched into the sky. People gathered in public squares are cooled by massive jets of water drawn from elephants. Almost anything goes in these extreme conditions.

 

Chinese journalist Zhou Laiyou explains these actions, which might seem astonishing to Japanese observers. 

 

“There is a belief among Chinese people that ‘public things are their own.’ They think they should take advantage of them or risk losing out. For example, it’s not uncommon to see Chinese people lying down and comfortably sleeping on display beds in air-conditioned department store furniture sections, without any sense of guilt.” (explains Zhou)

 

There is also another motive at play.

 

“There’s a desire to stand out and attract attention. By doing something flashy and recording it on video, people can increase their view counts and potentially earn advertising revenue. Appearance is irrelevant. Many Chinese people believe that, even in a heatwave, it’s possible to go viral with the right approach.” (says Zhou)

 

Worrying too much about how others perceive you can sometimes lead to missed opportunities. There might be valuable lessons for the more reserved Japanese in the bold strategies employed by the Chinese in coping with extreme heat.

 

【Energy-Free Cooking Method】 In Shandong Province, where intense sunlight has heated manhole covers, a boy is seen cooking eggs and shrimp on them.

From the August 23 and 30, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY’.