According to data from consumer research firm All View Cloud, nearly 12 million new air-conditioning units were sold in June, about 36 per cent more than the same period in 2022.
In northern China, where buildings are made to withstand harsh winters, the prolonged heat has been especially unbearable.
The Beijing municipal government has ordered schools to reduce or cancel outdoor activities, while at least one outdoor festival was cancelled this weekend because of continued high temperatures.
“Following heatwave warning raised by (the) Beijing authorities, and seeing temperatures reaching above 40 deg C this week, we have decided to postpone Juicy Burger Fest 2023, an outdoor event, to prevent any potential health risks caused by heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke,” the Beijinger, a magazine that organised the festival, wrote on its official WeChat account.