Beijing is hotter than a Sichuan peppercorn sandwich right now, and we’re not going to lie, we’re struggling. Our dedication to cycling to work may be a contributing factor, but being out and about in general is tough when it’s consistently above 35°C…
So what to do when you’re constantly hot and bothered? If your usual methods (drinking water, fanning yourself furiously with a notebook) aren’t working, it maybe time to make like a Beijinger and try something a little more quirky…
1) Munch on a Watermelon!
A Beijing classic through and through, xigua (watermelon) is the locals’ favorite way to cool down. And not just because it’s cheap – this big ol’ fruit is high in electrolytes, which are responsible for balancing the amount of water in your cells and rehydrating your body. Traditional Chinese medicine dictates that watermelon affects the bladder, heart and stomach, which are also thought to ‘clear heat’. As with all TCM tips – don’t ask too many questions, just try it. Grab a whole or halved watermelon from your local fruit shop from around 10RMB or – even better – from one of those horse and carts that have trundled in from the countryside. Old school!
2) Sport a ‘Beijing Bikini’
Sadly we’re not talking about a bathing suit adorned with a Forbidden City motif, but the delightful habit overweight men have of exposing their bellies during summer by rolling up their t-shirts. Question: why is it never the men with washboard abs that do this? And come to that, why have we never seen women do it…? We digress. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the belly, or dantian (丹田), is the energy center where all heat from the body originates, so many believe it’s sensible to release some of this heat by rolling up their shirts. If you haven’t seen it yet in Beijing, you will soon, as we see at least one person rocking this look every day right now.
3) Eat A Weird Ice Cream
Forget your Cornettos and your Drumsticks, icy treats come in all varieties here in Beijing, and NONE of them are anything like what you might have eaten in the West. From the ice cream mochi – a ball of ice cream wrapped in a thin layer of chewy rice cake – to the strangely addictive jujube flavored ice lollies, there are countless flavors to enjoy – though you may want to skip the sweetcorn or pea varieties…
Instead Bespoke can officially recommend the hua cha (jasmine tea) flavored soft serve at Wuyutai Tea Shop in Wangfujing (who knew!?) which costs a bargainous 6RMB; Laowu’s Beijing style yoghurt ice cream bar (5 RMB), and Jumbo’s durian flavored ice lolly (8RMB) – both easily found in your nearest 7-11. Just don’t stay in there too long or the elevator music on loop will start to infect your brain, and no amount of ice cream will be able to save you…
4) Whip Out Your Umbrella
Wait, why are people using umbrellas in July? Showers aren’t forecast, but the streets are full of people carrying Rihanna’s favorite rain implement. Have they all gone stark raving mad? Quite the opposite, friends. These are actually umbrellas made specifically to block sunlight for skin conscious folks (which, let’s be honest, should be all of us).
These Chinese-made sun umbrellas (‘taiyang san‘) are made from a UV-resistant material that blocks up to 90% of UV rays and are smaller and lighter. Unlike their rainy day counterparts, they also tend to feature a fetching, Mary-Poppins-esque lace or floral fabric trim. No sun umbrella? No worries – just use a regular umbrella made for the rain. Any fully-functioning rain umbrella blocks at least 75% of UV rays, according to a US study done by JAMA Dermatology. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it – this is an ingenious idea.
5) Understand the Difference Between ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ Foods…
Let’s be honest, with your stomach stuffed with watermelon and ice cream, you’re probably not in the mood for a huge hot meal anyway. Handily, the ‘Huang Di Nei Jing’ – an ancient Chinese medical tome, explains that the energy of the sky merges with the energy of the earth in summer, with hot ‘yin’ energy rising rapidly and cold ‘yang’ energy diminishing. In other words, if we want to keep our cool we need to eat ‘yang’ foods that release heat and energy blockages, lest we explode with rage.
Not sure which liangcai (cold dishes) to order next time you eat out? Beijing restaurants typically serve small plates of chilled and marinated vegetables such as spinach with almonds, pickled watermelon radish, and minced tofu with scallions. Cold noodles are another summer-time only treat, so be sure to check out our previous blog post about cold noodles here.
Want to learn more about Traditional Chinese health theory? Why not try our Traditional Chinese Wellness Signature Experience this summer?