Chinese Cities Prepare for Record High Temperatures This Summer

Major Chinese cities have issued warnings about hot weather, with forecasts indicating temperatures in Beijing could exceed 36 degrees Celsius today, as China braces for another year of record heat that may threaten electricity supplies, crops, and an already struggling economy. Since March, China has been experiencing heatwaves in several regions, with the Yunnan province recently recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, which is particularly taxing on power grids as air conditioners are turned on in millions of homes. Over the past two days, Shandong province and Beijing have issued heat warnings, with temperatures in densely populated cities like Jinan, Tianjin, and Zhengzhou expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius. Crop damage could lead to rising food prices, exacerbating inflation and putting pressure on the Chinese economy as it seeks to recover from the effects of three years of COVID-19 restrictions that impeded growth.