News Flash: It's Hot as Balls... but Thunderstorms Are Forecast
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If you've had the pleasure of stepping outside today you'll already know that it's hotter than a forgotten 烤包子 kǎo bāozi in the bottom of a brick oven, except we're the stranded baozi and the oven is Beijing. But while the mercury is due to hit a whopping 39 degrees Celsius, it'll just as soon fall back down thanks to thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday, bringing with them much more tolerable highs of 34 and 30 degrees Celsius respectively.
It's still uncertain as to whether we'll break last year's feat of hitting the highest recorded temperature in 50 years (also 39 degrees), but the government is famously wary about admitting when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celcius. We can only assume that this is because, according to law, there are several conditions that the government must abide by should temperatures exceed even 37 degrees Celsius (restrictions on outdoor work hours, reimbursements to employees. Read more via QR code below, in Chinese), putting a huge burden on services.
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Our very unofficial reading above, taken outside of Chaoyang Hospital, put the temperature at over 41 degrees in mid-afternoon on Thursday.
Although this weekend's thunderstorms should provide respite to the heat, we dutifully remind you that depending on the severity, that they too can also pose a number of hazards. Anyone who was here in 2011 will remember the worst storms in recent memory, in which 77 people died in flash floods across the city. In the event of heavy rain, please refer to this article for tips on staying safe.
Meanwhile, the heat seems to be wreaking serious havoc elsewhere across China. For instance, Liaoning's city of Kaiyuan witnessed a tornado last night that killed six and injured 190 people (read via QR code above), while in Jinan, Shandong province they've taken measures to ban the notorious "Beijing bikini" (read via QR code below). It's safe to say that we're living in interesting times.
Finally, to help you avoid looking like you've swum to every destination in the coming months, we've assembled some of our best heat-beating articles below.
For the most recent article in our ongoing Park Life blog series (access via QR code below) detailing the various parks around Beijing, we head to favorite Andingmen hangout and veritable oasis in the city, Qingnianhu Park. Read on to see what makes it and its pool so great. There are also all these other great indoor and outdoor pools to explore.
Given that it's too damn hot to do much, you might as well feel healthy while you're sitting on your sweaty arse. These fruit-infused detox waters are just the ticket to sweet, sweet relief. Read via QR code below.
Alternatively, get on these fruity popsicles which can also be shoved down your top for instant relief.
Finally, give up and simply GTFO of Beijing with a weekend in one of these neighboring ancient villages. If nothing else, there'll be fewer people to judge you when you start sticking popsicles down your pants.
Burgers won't cool you down but they will keep your mind off melting for at least 10 minutes.
Images: Michael Wester/the Beijinger
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