Thanks to its favorable climatic characteristics, the residents of Lushan Shui have never experienced what heat is if they have spent their whole lives in this land.
Since May of this year, Lushan Shui City (Guizhou, China) has become “hotter” than ever as it has emerged as a top destination for escaping the heat in the populous nation amidst extreme global warming.
“Summer at 19°C, passion 360 degrees, welcome to China’s cool city to escape the heat!” This is Lushan Shui’s promotional slogan to boost tourism. While many places are engulfed in a “fiery furnace,” this city remains as cool as paradise, especially since the locals here have no idea what “air conditioning or fans” are.
Lushan Shui – A City That Doesn’t Need Air Conditioning
The blue sky and white clouds, the peaks and wetlands blend with lush greenery, making Lushan Shui appear truly “vibrant and breezy.”
Located in the majestic O-Meng mountain range on the Yungui Plateau in southwestern China, Lushan Shui boasts a unique climate resource, free from harsh cold in winter and scorching heat in summer. The average annual temperature is 15°C, with the summer average at 19.7°C. The highest temperature recorded in Lushan Shui’s history is 31.2°C, but such cases are extremely rare.
With a cool, comfortable, humid, and clean climate, and moderate ultraviolet radiation, the Meteorological Association awarded Lushan Shui the title of “China’s Cool Capital”, also known as “Cool Capital Lushan Shui” (cool capital: refreshing capital), making it the only city in the country named after its climatic feature.
The cool climate in Lushan Shui is closely related to its geographical environment. The terrain of Lushan Shui: higher in the west, lower in the east; higher in the north, lower in the south, with an average altitude of 1,400m to 1,900m above sea level, where the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature. Additionally, the forest coverage is very high, with abundant rainfall at night, maintaining humidity in the air.
Thanks to its climatic advantages, the residents of Lushan Shui have never known what heat is if they have spent their lives in this land. Summer temperatures are below 20°C, and they need to cover themselves with a blanket at night while sleeping. Therefore, air conditioning is very “unsold” in this cool city. However, residents may still equip air conditioning for winter heating, while in summer, it is “left unused.” Many even do not have electric fans at home; they simply open windows to let in natural breezes, filling the space with refreshing air.
A Tourist Sanctuary to “Escape the Scorching Heat”
“As soon as I disembarked from the speedboat, I was greeted by a refreshing breeze that awakened my senses. My mind suddenly overflowed with vitality, and the scent of grass and trees filled the air—I immediately had to enjoy a bowl of lamb noodles from Shui Cheng to warm my belly. The noodles are soft and chewy, the lamb is fragrant and sweet, with a hint of spiciness from dried chili. Lushan Shui, paradise is here!” This was shared by a tourist on the official Weibo channel of Guizhou province after visiting Lushan Shui to escape the heat.
The Ancient Town of Shui Cheng is introduced by the locals, nestled in a corner of Lushan Shui City, with convenient transportation and preserving its ancient architectural style, where classic flavors abound, neither too old nor too modern.
“After a tiring walk, just sit still by the road, gaze at the blue sky, watch the white clouds drift gently, see the cows passing by, and occasionally hear the sound of hooves. The wind rustles the leaves. If you don’t visit Lushan Shui once, you won’t understand the feeling of a cool summer without air conditioning,” wrote Tưởng Minh Lưu, a reporter for Guizhou Daily.
In the last decade, Lushan Shui has enhanced its summer tourism development. Amid global warming, where many cities suffer from scorching heat, “Cool Capital Lushan Shui” remains at ease and “becomes famous without any effort.”
Thanks to this, Lushan Shui was rated as one of the ten most livable cities in China in 2022, topping the list of the most sought-after summer resorts on Mafengwo (a leading travel platform in China).
Climb to “the roof of Guizhou” Jiu Tai Ping and admire the magnificent mountain flowers; ride on the O-Meng grassland and experience the charm of the high mountain meadows in the south; enjoy the scenery while riding one of the longest cable cars in the world on Mai Hua Mountain to relish the sea of mist surrounding like a fairyland and the sun peeking through the clouds. Savor the joy of taste with grilled dishes from stone ovens and traditional Guizhou lamb noodles…
Entering Lushan Shui, you will be immersed in the coolness of the blue sky, white clouds, and mountains and waters surrounding you.
“Starting from a journey and ending with a piece of sincerity. Spring brings flowers, autumn brings the moon, summer brings the wind, and winter brings snow; beauty abounds everywhere, with four seasons of joy throughout the year.” At the opening ceremony of the “Cool Capital Lushan Shui” summer tourism season in 2023, Lushan Shui viewed this season as a reminder and an earnest invitation for guests from all over the world to share a bit of the coolness of nature.
