China and its “burnt cities” by high temperatures

First modification: 05/16/2023 – 13:52

With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde

Is Beijing burning? This is what Channel News Asia in Singapore suggests, as did Beijing News on Monday May 15, which talks about “burnt cities” from record temperatures. Thirty-six degrees on the thermometer this afternoon in the Chinese capital. In the parking lots, on the sides of the avenues, cars with their engines running. “There are definitely no more seasons of the year,” the sales executive tells RFI.

“I keep the engine running, if not, it’s an oven inside. I set the thermostat to 18 and I barely feel the air conditioning. It’s the first time I’ve turned it on. It’s very hot today. I know it’s not right to do it, but I’ll leave the air conditioner on all the time in this heat,” says a driver.

Since March, the heat wave affects the crops. On April 20, Yunnan, in the southwest of the country, had only received 35mm of rain since the beginning of the year. High temperature alert also in the eastern province of Shandong, or in Henan, in the center.

Towards new heat records

For this retired couple, the “Boyang”, the large oval melons with dark green skin, are essential in the garden. “He is the king of melons. He is sweet, now he is everywhere, because he quenches thirst. On the bike, we were very hot. We also made an ice cream stop just before.” Ice cream parlors are taken by storm. “Today it is much hotter than in a normal May,” sums up the husband before getting back on the motorcycle.

After last summer’s drought, China is preparing for new heat records, with the consequences we already know: air conditioners turned on everywhere, power cuts, pressure on water reserves and rising food prices.