China’s Chongqing residents battle one of hottest summers on record

Chongqing, the sprawling metropolis in southwestern China known for its steep hills, neon-lit skyline, and signature spicy hotpot, is enduring one of its most punishing heatwaves on record, with temperatures repeatedly surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104°F).

The unrelenting heat has transformed daily life in this city of nearly 32 million, pushing residents to seek out creative refuges and coping strategies as climate extremes become increasingly common, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"It's getting hotter and hotter," said Liu Fengying, 60, a local resident. In the afternoon of July 31, Liu joined around 100 retirees at a subway station entrance, sheltering from the oppressive heat in the comfort of its air-conditioned breeze. They passed the time with card games and shared snacks — a daily ritual that has grown in popularity amid surging summer temperatures.

"Aside from coming here, there's really no other way to avoid the heat," Liu said. "Last night, even with the AC set to 17 degrees C, it was still hot and wouldn't cool down."

China’s power grid is now under immense pressure, registering an all-time high demand of more than 1.5 billion kilowatts. In July alone, national records were broken four times as heatwaves gripped vast swathes of the country.

Chongqing authorities issued a red alert — the highest level of heat warning — on July 31, after daily peaks remained above 40°C for a full week. Of its 38 districts, 21 are forecast to hit up to 43°C, with temperatures expected to reach 44°C by August 3. Historically, temperatures in July rarely exceeded 39°C in the city, making this current spell especially severe.

Yet, many locals remain unfazed by the blistering conditions. As the sun set on July 31, dozens gathered at a tributary of the Yangtze River to swim.

By Vafa Guliyeva