Municipal authorities in Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China's Henan Province, have taken steps to ensure outdoor workers' safety, including the deployment of water sprays and mist cannons and the opening of service stations, as the central region of China has been experiencing days of intense summer heat.
Water trucks, road sweepers and mist cannon vehicles are seen moving in coordination at midday in the city as heat shimmer above the pavement, spraying water and cleaning and cooling the streets.
A fine mist will linger briefly in the air, bringing a moment of relief from the intense summer heat.
"We have increased the frequency of water spraying and mist cannon operations to reduce dust and cool the environment. When temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius, outdoor workers will take turns to have a rest, and their continuous working hours will be shortened accordingly," said Li Changzhen, director of the environmental sanitation management office of the Zhengzhou City Administration Bureau.
The heat response has also moved indoors.
Across Zhengzhou, urban service stations have been opened to outdoor workers and residents.
For sanitation workers, the stations are more than just a place to sit down. They can get drinking water, charge their phones, and during the hottest days, they are also offered free mung bean soup, a traditional summer drink in China believed to help cool the body and relieve heat.
More than 2,000 service stations of different kinds are open to the public.
During periods of extreme heat, many of the service stations have extended their opening hours. Some open as early as 05:00 in the morning, while others stay open until midnight.
Their locations have also been added to some of the city's major navigation platforms, making it easier for sanitation workers, delivery riders, patrol officers and residents to find nearby places to rest, cool off and manage the heat.
Central China's Zhengzhou takes steps to ensure outdoor workers' safety as temperatures soar
