Cooling Out

And on that note, let's do the most British thing imaginable and talk about the weather.　

While England has been grappling with one of its hottest summers in recent memory, Beijing has been surprisingly cool. Rain has rolled in every few days, keeping June's average daytime high at around 25 degrees Celsius. Although temperatures have edged up as summer progresses, it feels noticeably milder than previous years.　

Instead, we've been living through a rather odd balancing act. The weather swings between pleasantly cool and absolutely pouring with rain. Just when it starts to feel like summer has finally arrived, another heavy downpour appears and resets everything.　

I'm certainly not complaining. The cooler temperatures have made family outings far more enjoyable, especially with a young daughter in tow. But adjusting to the regular rain has taken a little getting used to. A few practical purchases quickly found their way to the top of my shopping list: lightweight raincoats, wellies and a waterproof bike cover. The humidity has some unexpected benefits, like cleaner air and trees and greenery.　

Not everyone shares my enthusiasm. More than one colleague has been huddled around the office air conditioner complaining about what the humidity is doing to their hair.　

Still, once the rain clears, there are few better places to spend an afternoon than the park or a café with outdoor seating. We've always enjoyed these little excursions, but in previous summers they usually required military-style planning to avoid the hottest part of the day. This year we've been able to head out much more spontaneously, without worrying about melting before we reach our destination.　

To be honest, though, I've long been an advocate for spending summer in China, even during the hotter years.　

Yes, Beijing can become incredibly warm, but the infrastructure is well equipped to deal with it. Air conditioning is commonplace in homes, offices, shops and on public transport, making it surprisingly easy to escape the heat.　

Then there's the food. 　

One of my favorite things about summer in China is the seemingly endless selection of cold drinks, desserts and seasonal treats. I've happily sampled everything from tofu lattes and green tea ice cream to more varieties of milk tea than I could count. Half the fun is discovering something new each summer.　

And then there are the more traditional ways of cooling down. After living here for so long, spotting someone on the roadside selling refreshing bowl of southern Chinese style tangshui (a sweet soup) has become one of those unmistakable signs that summer has truly arrived.　

Speak to someone with even a basic understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, however, and they'll probably offer a completely different solution: drink something hot.　

As an Englishman, I've never quite managed to wrap my head around the logic of sipping a steaming cup of tea when it's already 35 degrees outside. But then again, who am I to argue with thousands of years of accumulated wisdom?　

That's perhaps the biggest lesson I've learned. People here have generations of experience adapting to hot summers, and that knowledge is reflected everywhere - from architecture and public spaces to food, drinks and everyday habits.　

In fact, China's expertise in keeping cool is now reaching far beyond its borders. Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling products are becoming popular across Europe, as more households look for relief from hotter summers.　

Perhaps my mom's decision to spend part of her summer in Beijing is simply another example of that trend. Between the excellent infrastructure, endless food options, leafy parks and countless places to cool off, there's always a way to make the most of the season.　

And if my mom decides she'd rather spend future summers in Beijing than sweating through another British heat wave, I don't think she'll be the only foreign traveler thinking along those lines.