Ancient China elites used water fans, ice to cool down in summer; folks had bamboo pillows

In ancient China, summer heat could be deadly long before the advent of air conditioning.
To survive it, people resorted to remedies ranging from imperial ice…

In ancient China, summer heat could be deadly long before the advent of air conditioning.

To survive it, people resorted to remedies ranging from imperial ice sculptures and water-powered fans to the more carefree practice of dressing minimally.

One of the most devastating examples occurred during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), when an extreme heatwave swept across northern China.

Lacking modern weather stations, officials documented the disaster through observable signs: parched fields, dead livestock, ruined crops, and rising death tolls.

Modern researchers, utilising historical inscriptions and records, estimate that temperatures in many counties soared to 40 to 43 degrees Celsius.

The invention of ice boxes, above, or their modern equivalents, marked a sophisticated response to summer heat, with devices dating back over 2,400 years. Photo: Baidu

In July 1743, records indicate that around 11,400 people perished in and around Beijing within just 10 days, with many being poor residents, labourers and craftsmen.

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