Mercury hits 34 degrees Celsius in Hong Kong, tying traditional Chinese solar calendar record
- Maximum temperature equals record high for “minor heat” period set in 2016, Observatory says
The temperature shot to as high as 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 Fahrenheit) in Hong Kong on Saturday, tying the record for the city’s hottest “minor heat” period in the traditional Chinese solar calendar set eight years ago.
“Under the influence of the subtropical ridge, the weather is generally fine over southeastern China. Locally, it was sunny and very hot in the afternoon,” the Observatory said.
The maximum temperature recorded at the forecaster’s headquarters was 34 degrees, equalling the record high for the “minor heat” period set in 2016, it added.
“Minor heat”, or Xiaoshu in Chinese, is one the 24 solar terms developed by the ancient Chinese through observing the sun’s annual motion, which served as a guide to agricultural activities thousands of years ago.
In 2016, the system was deemed an intangible cultural heritage by Unesco, the United Nations’ heritage body.