China has experienced its hottest summer ever recorded, according to the China Meteorological Administration, as heatwaves continue to sweep across the country’s southern regions.
The national weather authority announced on Monday that from June to August 2025, large parts of China faced extreme heat, with the average temperature reaching 22.31°C. This surpasses the previous record of 22.30°C set in the summer of 2024.
In July, authorities issued health warnings as eastern regions endured soaring temperatures. In Beijing, the mercury climbed to nearly 40°C in June, while in Shanghai, August brought 27 days above 35°C, the highest since records began in 1961.
Officials noted that high atmospheric pressure cleared skies and increased exposure to direct sunlight.
Although some areas saw temporary relief this week, forecasters expect heat to return by late August, with temperatures again exceeding 35°C in cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, Nanchang, and Wuhan.
Alongside the relentless heat, China has faced heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides. At least 44 people were killed in rural Beijing in July when floods submerged homes, and in Inner Mongolia, usually a dry region, flash floods in August claimed at least nine lives.
Experts say climate change driven by human activity is intensifying extreme weather events, making heatwaves longer, more frequent, and more severe. China remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, though it has pledged to peak emissions by the end of this decade and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
At the same time, the country has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy as it works to reduce reliance on coal.
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