Beating the heat on a tight budget in Chongqing (2)

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COOLING DOWN FOR FREE

During World War II, air raid shelters were built in Chongqing, the country's wartime capital and primary target of Japanese air strikes. Decades later, these shelters have become free "cool venues" for a sweaty public.

Over 100 such shelters are open to the public, and each can hold up to 10,000 people at a time. Desks, chairs, drinking water, newspapers and TV are available there, allowing for even greater comfort.

Meanwhile, shopping malls and subway stations also provide respite from the heat. In an underground shopping mall in Chongqing's Yuzhong District, children and the elderly can be found hiding out from the sizzling temperatures above ground.

A 92-year-old man surnamed Rong said the mall is the coolest place around and many of his neighbors frequently go there to get a free dose of air conditioning. "My family of four lives in an old, tiny apartment and it's too hot to stay there without an air conditioner."

Another person at the mall complained that there used to be over 100 benches, but now only about 20 are left. "The mall removed them so we won't come."

At a nearby subway station, people can be found just sitting on the ground and cooling off without ever stepping onto a train. A 93-year-old resident surnamed He is said to sit there every day to conserve electricity during the day.

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