Beating the heat

Heat-beating products are trending on e-commerce sites and at their bricks-and-mortar counterparts.

Budget items have been introduced on e-commerce platforms such as JD.com and Taobao to help people stay cool.

For just 35 yuan ($4.80), e-buyers can obtain 24 iced patches to apply to the forehead. For almost the same price, they can purchase neck rings, which absorb heat when placed on the skin.

Media reports said pillows and quilts made from materials that feel cool on contact with the skin are also top sellers.

The China Meteorological Administration advised residents in cities including Beijing to avoid going out in the afternoon and to take precautions against heatstroke and dehydration.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a guide to help the public stay safe, warning that long-term exposure to high temperatures could cause a range of health issues such as cramps, exhaustion and even coma.

Children, pregnant women and seniors are among the most vulnerable groups, the center said.

Some residents in heat-affected areas chose to remain indoors to wait for temperatures to fall, while others flocked to coastal resorts to seek a respite from the sun.