Liuzhou Laowai
Liuzhou Weather
Most
images on this blog are hosted by
ImageShack® who seem to be having many problems. Sorry if any pictures are missing. I'm working on moving them somewhere more reliable.
Where is Liuzhou?
Where are you? Add yourself to my guest map.
Danwei Model Worker Award
Minority Stamps
Brrrrr!
posted Monday, 27 December 2004
One of the reasons I choose to live here in Guangxi is the climate. For nine months of the year it is warm, if not hot! We are just a shade above the Tropic of Cancer and so are officially in a "semi-tropical zone."
Last Wednesday (22nd December), I was basking in afternoon temperatures of 20ºC and I remember spending one Christmas Day sitting outside in shorts and T-shirt. Not this year! On Thursday morning, I woke to find that the temperature had dropped by around 15º overnight.
I did what everyone does round these parts when this happens. I emptied my wardrobe onto the bed, sorted everything out and put everything on. Then I climbed into the fridge to warm up.
OK. It 's probably not that cold really, but what you have to remember is that, in the south of China, heating is considered unnecessary. Nowhere is heated. Shops, offices, factories, schools and most homes are heat free zones.
Not that having heating would help most people. The weather has been ridiculously dry for months. We have had the biggest drought for decades, and as most of Liuzhou's electricity supply is generated in hydroelectric power stations, there have been serious power shortages. Electricity is regularly cut off and some friends seem never to have power during the day. Power is being rationed but I am lucky! I live next door to the compound where all the local governement staff and party officials live. They keep their electricity, no matter what, and I seem to be on the same supply line!
So, it seems we will have to suffer this cold weather for two or three months unless the wind changes direction again (It is blowing down from Beijing at the moment). I just keep my eyes on the forecast and pray to the weather gods for respite.
Please excuse any spelling mistakes in this post. It isn't easy to type weraing three pairs of gloves.
Last Wednesday (22nd December), I was basking in afternoon temperatures of 20ºC and I remember spending one Christmas Day sitting outside in shorts and T-shirt. Not this year! On Thursday morning, I woke to find that the temperature had dropped by around 15º overnight.
I did what everyone does round these parts when this happens. I emptied my wardrobe onto the bed, sorted everything out and put everything on. Then I climbed into the fridge to warm up.
OK. It 's probably not that cold really, but what you have to remember is that, in the south of China, heating is considered unnecessary. Nowhere is heated. Shops, offices, factories, schools and most homes are heat free zones.
Not that having heating would help most people. The weather has been ridiculously dry for months. We have had the biggest drought for decades, and as most of Liuzhou's electricity supply is generated in hydroelectric power stations, there have been serious power shortages. Electricity is regularly cut off and some friends seem never to have power during the day. Power is being rationed but I am lucky! I live next door to the compound where all the local governement staff and party officials live. They keep their electricity, no matter what, and I seem to be on the same supply line!
So, it seems we will have to suffer this cold weather for two or three months unless the wind changes direction again (It is blowing down from Beijing at the moment). I just keep my eyes on the forecast and pray to the weather gods for respite.
Please excuse any spelling mistakes in this post. It isn't easy to type weraing three pairs of gloves.