Newlyweds Li Guoqing, who is a photographer in Beijing, and his wife sought cooler temperatures in Yanji, a hilly border town in Jilin province with a rich ethnic Korean culture. They spent three nights there, treating themselves to delicacies such as iced Korean noodles and barbecue. During their visit, the overnight temperature fell to 15 C.

The couple started planning their holiday trip a week earlier, when temperatures in Beijing had already risen to uncomfortable levels.

"Cooler weather is a major factor for us," Li said, adding that the couple also considered Beidaihe, a beach resort in Hebei province, and Yantai, a coastal town in Shandong province known for its seafood, as holiday destinations.

Chen Shu, a graduate student of traditional Chinese medicine, thought it would be too hot to remain in his dormitory in Beijing.

The 25-year-old took a bullet train to his hometown of Jinzhou, Liaoning province, which is close to the Bohai Sea, and where the highest temperatures are more than 10 C lower than those in Beijing.

During the three-day public holiday, he met up with friends, drank cold beer, and ate barbecue food.

"This is the way to spend summer," Chen said.