Hector RETAMAL/AFP Photo by Hector RETAMAL /AFPArticle contentHangzhou (China) (AFP) — In a high-ceilinged room on the outskirts of eastern China’s Hangzhou, workers use tongs to slide large blocks of frosty white ice along a metal track into a refrigerated truck.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentSales have picked up in recent weeks, boosted by heatwaves sweeping the whole country as summer sets in, the owner of Feichao ice factory, Sun Chao, told AFP.Article contentArticle contentGlobally, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, experts say, and China is no exception — 2024 was the country’s hottest on record, and this year is also set to be a scorcher.Article contentArticle contentLast week, authorities warned of heat-related health risks across large swathes of eastern China, including Zhejiang province where Hangzhou is located.Article content“In the spring, autumn, and winter, a higher temperature of two to three degrees doesn’t have a big impact on our sales,” Sun said.Article contentArticle content“But in the summer, when temperatures are slightly higher, it has a big impact.”Article contentFeichao is a relatively small facility that sells ice to markets, produce transporters, and event organisers.Article contentAs the mercury soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in multiple cities across China recently, ice from businesses like Sun’s was used to cool down huge outdoor venues.Article contentIn neighbouring Jiangsu province, organisers of a football match attended by over 60,000 people placed more than 10,000 large blocks of ice around the stadium, according to the state-owned Global Times.Article contentArticle content– Extreme summers –Article contentAs AFP watched lorries being loaded with Feichao’s ice on Wednesday, an employee from a nearby seafood shop came on foot to purchase two ice blocks — each selling for around $3.50 — hauling them off in a large plastic bag.Article contentArticle content“In May and June, I can sell around 100 tonnes a day. In July, that number grows, and I can sell around 300 to 400 tonnes,” Sun told AFP.Article contentChina has endured a string of extreme summers in recent years.Article contentIn June, authorities issued heat warnings in Beijing as temperatures in the capital rose to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, while state media said 102 weather stations across the country logged their hottest-ever June day.Article contentThe same month, six people were killed and more than 80,000 evacuated due to floods in southern Guizhou province.Article contentArticle contentChina is the world’s biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that scientists generally agree are driving climate change and making extreme weather more intense and frequent.Article contentIt is also a global leader in renewable energy, adding capacity at a faster rate than any other country.Article content© 2025 AFPArticle content
China heatwaves boost ice factory sales
