A Word to the Wise for Guangdong Visitors...
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In the summer of Guangdong, even a megastar like Eason Chan (a very famous Hong Kong singer) was scorching during his concert performance, and you could imagine how "zealous" the weather was.
Although looking at the thermometer readings, Guangzhou may not be as hot as some cities in northern China, but the humidity is usually above 80%! The sun could still feel like it's blazing and causing dehydration, while heavy rain can suddenly come down. The actual heat you feel on your body (your physical sensation of the heat) can reach 9 to 10 degrees higher than the thermometer readings! The Guangdong of today has simply been a huge steamer room and has become akin to a sauna!
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️ Be aware of these pitfalls when planning a trip to Guangzhou!-
1.) Styling Secrets:
- Choose thin, breathable, light-colored t-shirts for better ventilation when sweating. It is strongly recommended that you wear comfortable shoes like slippers so that they can allow sweat evaporation.
- Never wear non-breathable sun-protective clothing while simultaneously wearing hats or face masks, causing sweat to be trapped inside and making you more likely to suffer from heatstroke.
- Bringing an umbrella around can help you shield yourself from the sun in sunny weather and also protect you against the rain, providing two benefits at the same time.
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2.) Battle Against Mosquitos:
- Stock up on mosquito repellent and floral water (a commonly used Chinese coolant and repellent) and anti-inflammatory ointments (to relieve itching from mosquito bites).
- Guangzhou recently had over a hundred days of rain, resulting in a significant increase in mosquitoes that are particularly dangerous. There are numerous areas with high risk of Dengue fever, a disease spread by mosquitoes that can cause fever.
- Whenever you venture outside to meander around the city, visit parks, or take pictures at scenic places, remember to apply mosquito repellent!
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3.) Difficulty of Laundry:
- Bring along a stockpile of disposable underwear, socks, towels, etc.
- Although Guangzhou is currently still in the 30s degrees Celsius range, due to the humidity, clothes dried overnight are unlikely to be dry and may even have a musty smell! Therefore, this makes disposable products especially important! ️
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4.) Food Safety:
- Try to avoid: eating raw foods (raw seafood or raw meat preserved in sauce), long-stored rice noodles/rice rolls (Guangdong specialties), sugar syrup desserts, pastries, etc.
- In such high-temperature and high-humidity climates, bacteria grow extremely fast. These items (especially raw food) easily spoil, and consumption can result in a high risk of food poisoning; for instance, if the rice products or seafood are contaminated by pathogenic bacteria, they might be toxic to your health.
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5.) Heatwave Protection Gear:
- Ten Drops, Huoxiang Qingchang Extract (traditional Chinese medicine for preventing heatstroke - please substitute with familiar ones if necessary), portable fans, cooling balm (used to rejuvenate and cool the mind), and electrolyte solutions.
- Given Guangdong's current climate, heatstroke can occur quickly. Therefore, carrying heatstroke remedies and using small fans to stay cool, and ensuring regular hydration with electrolyte solutions, helps replenish lost fluids and minerals to keep you balanced.
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6.) Check the Day's Weather Before Leaving:
- Make sure to check the predicted temperature before going out, and be informed about measures to cope with a perceived unpleasant heat wave and any potential heat-related issues.
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7.) Be Careful With 'Cool Tea':
- Do not casually drink any 'cool tea' found on the streets. A unique herbal tea from Guangdong, locals believe it can clear out heat toxins.
- Some cool teas may have a strong nature of being “cold" (these types are described as having a stronger effect on your body, generally colder), if you have poor digestive health, it’s easy to develop stomach discomfort such as diarrhea, after ingesting.
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8.) Advice Against Makeup:
- Indeed, we do not recommend applying makeup. Due to excessive sweat, it would be very quick to smear off your makeup.
- Additionally, heat and humidity make skin more prone to clogged pores causing breakouts. Just a simple application of sunscreen is sufficient.
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Wow, this person's homepage is packed with so many fun and beautiful spots in Guangzhou! It's amazing.
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I'm planning a 2 or 3-day trip to Guangzhou in early August. Any recommendations on where to go?
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If I go to Guangzhou in mid to late July, is it going to rain constantly?
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Yes, it is.
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I'm arriving tomorrow evening. I wonder if it's hotter than Shanghai – a bit worried about that!
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It's pretty dry and hot right now.
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If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section!
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Has the heavy rain stopped? I'm heading there for work in late July or early August. Not sure what the weather will be like – what kind of clothes should I pack, and are there any daily essentials I should prepare or buy? Thanks!
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Is the weather suitable for visiting Chimelong next week? The forecast is all rain.
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There might be sudden downpours.
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Will heavy rain affect a trip to Chimelong next week? And will it be very hot?
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Yes, it will. And Chimelong doesn't have many places to shelter from the rain.
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If I go in early August, will it be very hot? Any recommendations for good places to visit within Guangzhou?
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Same question here.
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It's pretty similar to how it is now.
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I'm planning to go to Guangzhou on Saturday. Is it going to rain the entire time?
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It might suddenly pour for a bit and then stop.
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I'm planning a trip to the southeast coast in late May. What's the weather like? Any chance of typhoons?
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No typhoons in May, but you can expect sudden heavy rainstorms. It's also very humid and hot.