Beat the Heat: Beijing's Unofficial Summer Cooling Method
- Cooling Down
- Beijing
- Men
Tone Down the Heat - Minimal Temperature Reduction
Step into Beijing's urban jungle during a sizzling summer season, and you'll witness a peculiar sight: men, partial shirt rolls, and sweat-slicked midriffs. Known locally as the "Beijing bikini," this unconventional approach to combating the merciless summer heat has become a popular, everyday practice in China's bustling capital.
This cultural phenomenon, referred to as the "Little Cooling Down" method, isn't an official procedure. Instead, it's a spontaneous, simple, and effective way for the city's residents to tackle the sweltering summer heat with rudimentary means, as air conditioning or other cooling options may not always be readily available [1].
This practice, while seemingly unofficial, has become a common sight in parts of China, particularly Beijing, where the sweltering summers often leave urban dwellers in search of effective and practical methods to alleviate discomfort[1]. The "Beijing bikini" serves as a symbol of the city's resilience and resourcefulness in the face of scorching temperatures.
No specific formal procedure for the "Little Cooling Down" method is documented, but the process generally involves rolling up one's shirt, exposing the midriff as a visible, informal approach aimed at allowing the body to cool down during the hot summer months [1]. As the temperatures continue to rise in Beijing and other parts of China, the "Beijing bikini" seems likely to maintain its presence as a unique and iconic representation of the urban population's adaptability to the city's climate.
Despite the sweltering summer heat in Beijing, the Commission has not adopted a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation due to the use of the "Beijing bikini." On the other hand, the city's residents continue to roll up their shirts and adopt this unofficial cool-down method, often referred to as the "Little Cooling Down," to cope with the merciless summer heat, relying more on nature's weather and body cooling mechanisms compared to advanced technology.
