Extreme heatwaves are sweeping the globe, and mainland China is no exception. In July, the mainland is experiencing four rounds of high temperatures, with record-breaking temperatures in places like Xinjiang and Gansu, marking a historically rare event.
According to reports from the mainland’s “Lookout Net,” surface temperatures in many areas of Gansu have surpassed 71°C, causing even the asphalt on roads to melt, leaving shoe prints as if walking on hot coals, with the soles of shoes also at risk of melting. On July 8th, the surface temperature in Lanzhou, Gansu reached 71.3°C.
Social media users have been expressing fear, with some commenting that at such temperatures, a person falling could be directly burned.
Local residents on July 11th informed Epoch Times that fortunately, the heatwave is beginning to taper off starting today. In the past few days, it felt like being baked in an oven due to the dry heat, while yesterday saw rain in the morning followed by a humid steam in the afternoon. The dry heat felt like being inside an oven, while the humid heat felt like being in a steamer.
The China Meteorological Administration has announced four heatwaves scheduled for July in the mainland, spanning from July 3rd to 8th, July 10th to 16th, July 18th to 22nd, and July 25th to 28th, with temperatures in some areas reaching 41°C, 42°C, or even surpassing historical extremes.
The Hunan Meteorological Administration reported that from July 10th to 11th, high temperatures persisted, with most parts of the province experiencing temperatures above 35°C, and some areas reaching over 38°C.
Public reports have indicated that the northern regions have recently encountered the largest-scale heatwave of the year, with Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong experiencing strong heat. Turpan in Xinjiang recorded temperatures exceeding 50°C, with surface temperatures reaching up to 80°C. Over four million square kilometers are experiencing temperatures above 35°C.
Mr. Xu from Hubei described to Epoch Times that Wuhan is naturally very hot, making it uncomfortable to be outside due to the heat and humidity, leaving people sticky and uncomfortable.
He also mentioned the changes in the environment, stating that due to the development of real estate projects, many lakes in Hubei have been filled in. Hubei used to be known for its numerous lakes, which helped regulate the climate. Without these lakes, the area has become less habitable with extreme temperatures.
Online, netizens from different regions have been complaining about the extraordinary heatwave in their areas. A street vendor in Xi’an mentioned that with temperatures exceeding 40°C continuously, they have had to close their businesses temporarily.
Netizens from Xinjiang expressed their struggle with the scorching heat, where eggs left on the ground could be cooked in minutes.
Some netizens shared experiences of getting sunburnt while going out to collect deliveries.
Mr. Xu stated, “Disasters are everywhere, and it’s the common people who suffer. It’s unfortunate to be born in this country. When it rains in many places across the country, floods occur, and reservoirs face problems.”
On social media, another netizen expressed concerns about the series of natural disasters, questioning why the world seems to be in chaos with continuous severe weather events like heavy rains, earthquakes, high temperatures, and typhoons.
A netizen from Shandong lamented, “Is this the end of the world? One moment there’s a typhoon, then extreme heat, and next, an earthquake.”