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Q: Why is there no air conditioning turned on anywhere?
Here in Xi'an, there is literally no air conditioning turned on anywhere. My company's office, restaurants, shops etc. This despite it being 30 degrees celsius or so for the last few days.
Even in my gym last night, no air conditioning. I asked the staff in my fairly rudimentary Chinese and they said it would stay that way (no a/c) until May or even June.
I'm wondering is this a general belief in China: don't turn on the air conditioning until its officially 'summer', even in 30 degree weather.
I've come across stranger Chinese 'logic' in my time
What about your city? Similar?
Air Conditioning uses a lot of (expensive) electricity, this costs money and strains the supply system. Many local governments ban the use of air con until a pre-determined date and sometimes even in the height of summer have an official day where air conditioning is not allowed.
Here in Nanning in the downtown areas each area has an 'official' no air con day, of course this being China it isn't heavily enforced and followed only by a few building owners.
30 degrees?! My goodness they should turn the heat on!
Seriously though weather decisions are entirely based on season. A few days ago it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit and everyone was walking around in heavy coats, sweating.
dandmcd:
This is the best answer. It seems most people don't check the weather before they go to work, or go out. I see the same thing, people wearing heavy coats, thick leggings and sweaters on a hot and humid day, and some days when it is cold and rainy, most of the girls might be parading their mini-skirts, tank tops and sandals. If it is hot for 3 or 4 days in a row, they eventually trend to the right set of clothes, but if the weather makes a turn the other direction, it takes people here a few days to adjust.
The same with A/C. People will turn it on after suffering for a few miserable days, but only after waiting it out to see if it doesn't get cool again. I mean, it's Spring right, who the hell would run an air conditioner on a sweltering hot day? ;) My gf, I have to argue with to get the air turned on, because she is worried how expensive it is to run it, but complains endlessly how hot and humid it is.
There are a couple small restaurants I avoid and boycott because they never have the air running. There is one new place I ate at that was sweltering hot, and they refused to turn the A/C on. A few weeks later I went there again, still f'ing hot inside. If they'd run the A/C they might find people might actually want to go and eat there, as everytime I walk by it is empty. The boss is too anal about only running the air during the Summer, despite the fact this is Guangzhou where Summer has already began. I've noticed the place is struggling to have anything on the menu in-stock, I imagine money is about to run dry on that place, soon.
For restaurants and small shops there is no excuse. Nobody in their right mind is going to buy anything from a shop that can't keep their customers comfortable and happy. This is the reason Western restaurants do so well, while small Chinese shops come and go; they know by having Westernn style bathrooms, comfortable temperature and friendly service, people will likely always come back.
If I had a gym that refused to turn the air on, I would demand all my money be returned on the spot, because that is BS. If I wanted ot work out in hot, humid conditions ,I'd run outside! I go to a gym to workout in a comfortable environment.
Chinese people cannot feel the weather. They can only look in a calendar or listen to the weather forecast.
I do think 30 is nothing to complain about. I generally find that during summer many restaurants/shops are freezing cold.
Part of it comes down to saving money and I think part of it comes down to people doing things according to season instead of according to that actual day.
The other week it was nice and warm an sunny and people were looking at me like I was the crazy one because I was only in a tshirt and one pair of jeans.
Not everyone can afford air conditioning. Restaurants will have to raise prices to cover their power bills.
I often go to the local book store. A bottle of Sprite costs 5 kuai there (not only for me, I saw Chinese paying the same price). When I asked them why they charge 5 kuai for a bottle of Sprite when you can buy one for 2.5 in the convenience store across the road, the lady said, "Because the AC is on".
It was nice & cool inside.
Same reason people in Guilin wear long johns until after the May Day holliday....
