These days it's getting extremely hot. So this week, let's look at some traditional and creative ways to stay cool during the summer.

6 Ways To Keep Cool in Summer Heat

01. Wear Suitable Clothing

Let's start with clothes. To help you body stay cool, it's important to choose light-weight, breathable fabrics. Here are some keywords for your Taobao search:

亞麻
yà má
linen

純棉
chún mián
100% cotton
(Literally "pure-cotton")

速干
sù gān
fast-dry; instant dry

防曬
fánɡ shài
UV protection; sunburn protection

NOTE
When you search for clothes online, use the words above as adjectives, and add a [piece of clothing] after them. For example, 速干T恤 (sù gān tī xù), "fast-dry t-shirt", or 亞麻連衣裙 (yà má lián yī qún), "linen dress".

02. Drink a Lot

During the hot days, we lose more water through our skin and respiration. So staying hydrated is key:

多喝水
duō hē shuǐ
to drink more water

補(bǔ)水
bǔ shuǐ
to stay hydrated
(Literally "to replenish water")

保持身體水分
bǎo chí shēn tǐ shuǐ fèn
to stay hydrated
(Literally "to maintain-body-moisture")

03. Eat Light

It's also a good idea to eat light, cooling food. It's easier for the body to maintain a lower temperature if it's not busy digesting heavy meals.

清淡
qīng dàn
light (of food)

That's why you might notice that a popular summer meal in China is cold noodles mixed with sliced cucumbers and veggies.

涼皮
liáng pí
cold skin noodles (from Shaanxi province)

04. Use Accessories

While fans have been around for centuries, some smart devices have only been invented in the recent years:

扇子
shàn zi
fan

電風(fēng)扇
diàn fēng shàn
electric fan

迷你小風(fēng)扇
mí nǐ xiǎo fēng shàn
mini (portable) fan

空調(diào)
kōng tiáo
air conditioner

穿戴式空調(diào)
chuān dài shì kōng tiáo
wearable a/c
(Literally "wear-type-air-conditioner")

05. Stay in the Shade

Embrace the shade! During the summer, you will notice local people carrying umbrellas, or hiding in the shade while waiting for a traffic light. It's always good to avoid extra exposure to UV rays, and protect yourself from the heat:

背陰
bèi yīn
shade

遮陽(yáng)傘
zhē yáng sǎn
umbrella (for the sun); parasol

06. Plan Indoor Activities

When it gets too hot out, no matter what clothes you wear and how much water you drink, it's important to take breaks from the heat to cool down. Good chance to visit museums, theaters and exhibitions!

室內(nèi)活動(dòng)
shì nèi huó dòng
indoor activities

去博物館
qù bó wù guǎn
to visit a museum

看展覽
kàn zhǎn lǎn
to see an exhibition

看劇
kàn jù
to see an play

看演出
kàn yǎn chū
to see a performance/show (dancing, singing, etc.)

來源：That's Mandarin
編輯：萬月英