With dormitories sweltering in heat, many students opt for hotels, libraries, and even tents to escape the oppressive summer temperatures.
**Chinese Students Seek Relief from Heatwave by Sleeping in Libraries and Tents**
**Chinese Students Seek Relief from Heatwave by Sleeping in Libraries and Tents**
As extreme temperatures grip eastern China, students turn to unconventional sleeping arrangements.
As unbearable heat swells across eastern China earlier than expected this summer, students are devising creative solutions to cope with high temperatures. Reports suggest many have begun abandoning their cramped dormitories in search of cooler environments, opting for accommodations in libraries, tents, and even local hotels.
Students are especially feeling the strain, as extreme heat alerts have been issued across several cities. For instance, one 20-year-old university student in Changchun revealed, “Sometimes we have to stay in hotels due to the heat, though it can be a significant expense.” This student has resorted to creating his own makeshift air-conditioning unit using ice and a fan, a tactic he employs as the academic year winds down.
Typically associated with "dog days,” this intense heat spell began earlier than usual, with recent temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The impact of the heatwave has been severe enough that reports have emerged of tragic incidents, including the death of a dormitory guard at Qingdao University, suspected to be from heatstroke. The university is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing, heightening concerns surrounding student and staff living conditions.
As tributes filled social media for the guard, affectionately known for caring for campus animals, the broader implications of climate change were brought to light. A peer commented on the necessity of improving living conditions across campuses. Hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses have also been reported, further emphasizing the crisis.
This summer's climatic extremes are part of a broader trend linked to global warming, with historical data revealing rising temperatures and increased fatalities from heatwaves in recent years. The record-breaking summer of 2024 has prompted discussions around the dependency on air conditioning, which is accounting for over a third of electricity demand in eastern China.
In response to the relentless heat, several universities are now investing in air-conditioning systems for dormitories. Reports confirmed that Qingdao University plans to install these systems over the summer, a relief for students contemplating their future housing options. As one high school graduate aspiring to attend Qingdao University mentioned, “Without air-conditioning, it’s too hot to survive,” underscoring the urgent need for comfortable living conditions in educational institutions.
Students are especially feeling the strain, as extreme heat alerts have been issued across several cities. For instance, one 20-year-old university student in Changchun revealed, “Sometimes we have to stay in hotels due to the heat, though it can be a significant expense.” This student has resorted to creating his own makeshift air-conditioning unit using ice and a fan, a tactic he employs as the academic year winds down.
Typically associated with "dog days,” this intense heat spell began earlier than usual, with recent temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The impact of the heatwave has been severe enough that reports have emerged of tragic incidents, including the death of a dormitory guard at Qingdao University, suspected to be from heatstroke. The university is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing, heightening concerns surrounding student and staff living conditions.
As tributes filled social media for the guard, affectionately known for caring for campus animals, the broader implications of climate change were brought to light. A peer commented on the necessity of improving living conditions across campuses. Hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses have also been reported, further emphasizing the crisis.
This summer's climatic extremes are part of a broader trend linked to global warming, with historical data revealing rising temperatures and increased fatalities from heatwaves in recent years. The record-breaking summer of 2024 has prompted discussions around the dependency on air conditioning, which is accounting for over a third of electricity demand in eastern China.
In response to the relentless heat, several universities are now investing in air-conditioning systems for dormitories. Reports confirmed that Qingdao University plans to install these systems over the summer, a relief for students contemplating their future housing options. As one high school graduate aspiring to attend Qingdao University mentioned, “Without air-conditioning, it’s too hot to survive,” underscoring the urgent need for comfortable living conditions in educational institutions.
