Chinese students sleep off heatwave in libraries and tents

China is experiencing an unusually early and intense heatwave this year, especially in its eastern regions. The extreme temperatures have caught millions of people by surprise, including many university students who are struggling to cope with the heat in their crowded dormitories. Most student dorms in China do not have air conditioning, and rooms often house four to eight people, making them stuffy and uncomfortable during the summer. As a result, students are finding creative ways to stay cool. Some have started camping out in hallways or even supermarkets, while others have left campus altogether to stay in hotels, despite the high cost. One 20-year-old student from Changchun shared that he and his friends sometimes book hotel rooms just to enjoy the air conditioning, but this is only an option when the heat becomes unbearable. On most days, he tries to cool his dorm room by placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan, calling it his 'homemade air-conditioner. ' This simple trick has helped him survive the end of the semester.

The period known as 'sanfu' or 'dog days' in China usually starts in mid-July, but this year, the heat arrived much earlier. In the past week, temperatures in eastern China have soared above 40 degrees Celsius, and weather authorities in cities like Qingdao have warned that it could get even hotter. The dangers of the heat became clear when a dormitory guard at Qingdao University died in his room, with many suspecting heatstroke as the cause. The university is still investigating his death, but the incident has sparked concern about the living conditions for both students and staff. The guard was well-liked by students for his kindness and for caring for stray cats on campus. On the same day, a student at the university was hospitalized after suffering from heatstroke, highlighting the risks of extreme heat in places without proper cooling.

China has also been facing other extreme weather events, such as floods and typhoons, which experts link to climate change. Recently, a typhoon hit the eastern coast, causing flash floods and killing people in both China and Taiwan. In another incident, floods washed away a bridge between Nepal and China, resulting in several deaths and missing people. Meanwhile, heatwaves in China are becoming more severe and lasting longer. In 2022, over 50,000 people died from heat-related causes, and last year, a town in Xinjiang recorded the highest temperature ever seen in China. July 2024 was the hottest month since records began in 1961. The heat has pushed people to their limits. In Zhejiang, a man broke a train window to let in air after passengers were trapped for hours in the heat. In Jiangxi, elderly people have been spending their afternoons in air-conditioned restaurants without ordering food, just to escape the heat. Some universities have allowed students to sleep in libraries or set up tents in air-conditioned hallways. Schools in Shandong province are now planning to install air conditioning in dormitories, and Qingdao University has announced similar plans. Air conditioning now accounts for more than a third of electricity use in eastern China, and the country's power demand hit a record high in early July. For many students, having air conditioning in their dorms is now a deciding factor in choosing a university, as living without it has become almost impossible during the hot summer months.