Cooler north draws travelers amid southern heat, humidity

As scorching temperatures hit across many parts of China, cooler northern destinations and water parks are gaining popularity as summer getaways during the days of sanfu, or the hottest and most humid period of the year.

Starting in mid-July, cities such as Chongqing having issued multiple red alerts as daytime temperatures soared to 40 C. The sanfu period, also known as China's "dog days of summer", comprises 30 to 40 days of sweltering heat.

In contrast, northeastern China has been making headlines for its unseasonably cool weather. Since June, life services platform Meituan reported a 526 percent increase in searches for topics related to "keeping warm" or "wrapping up warm" in some areas.

As a result, places such as the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in Jilin province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region have become attractive destinations for those looking for a cool break.

"I feel like I'm melting whenever I step outside," said Li Wenxiang, 38, a Beijing resident. "I spent several days last week in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region with my husband and 4-year-old son, and the weather there felt like autumn, around 25 C."

Li added that her family traditionally seeks cooler climes to escape the summer heat, often traveling to places in northern China, such as Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces.

Travel agencies reported a surge in interest in these summer getaways.

Travel portal Tuniu noted a significant increase in searches for tour packages to northern destinations, such as Harbin in Heilongjiang and Changbai Mountain in Jilin, during the week starting July 15, compared with the previous week.

Prices for group tours to northeastern provinces increased 10 to 20 percent on average during the same period, according to Tuniu.

"Many of our customers are from eastern provinces, and are frustrated with the 'plum rain season' — a period of continuous rain or sultry weather," said Li Shengwen, head of the northeastern region's tour products at Tuniu. "They prefer northern destinations for the cooler, sunnier weather."

The northeastern provinces boast rich tourism resources and stunning natural landscapes, Li said, highlighting attractions such as seas, forests and grasslands where travelers can cool off.

Tourists can also experience the unique culture in Yanbian and enjoy snow-themed activities in Harbin, which is often dubbed China's winter wonderland, she added.

Water and ocean parks have also become popular refuge from the summer heat.

Water parks and destinations featuring water-based entertainment have been especially favored by the travel platform's users, with bookings for ocean parks surging 95 percent compared with the previous month, according to Trip.com Group, another travel portal.

"It's an economical choice to beat the heat," said a woman in her 30s from Shenzhen, Guangdong province. "As regular workers, we don't have long holidays to travel to cooler places, but we can still give our children a fun and refreshing day at the water parks."