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Quirky China trend shows kids, pets hugging giant winter melons to stay cool at night

Quirky China trend shows kids, pets hugging giant winter melons to stay cool at night

The Star5 days ago
A trend in China features kids and pets cuddling with oversized winter melons to keep cool at night. - Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote
BEIJING: The scorching summer heat in China has sparked a trend where people hug a giant winter melon while sleeping to find relief from the sweltering temperatures.
The topic 'sleeping with a winter melon is cooler than using an air conditioner' has gone viral on mainland social media, with one Chinese platform alone garnering 4.4 million views.
Many individuals shared photos of themselves slumbering while clutching these large vegetables, which are comparable in size to a toddler, highlighting their remarkable cooling effects.
A resident of northern China's Tianjin municipality, known as Longma, claimed to be among the first to introduce this effective cooling method that ignited the trend.
She purchased a 14kg winter melon from the local market for her child, who complained that the summer heat was making it difficult for him to sleep at night.
Longma noted that she refrained from using air conditioning in the bedrooms to avoid catching a cold, and saw the 'ancient method' of hugging a winter melon as a viable alternative.
Each day, she would gently pat the vegetable to monitor its condition, stating that her winter melon remained in excellent shape after 26 days.
Many families have purchased these vegetables for their children and pets, with photos capturing them snugly clinging to the melons during their sleep. - Photo: RedNote
Another participant from eastern China's Anhui province admitted she felt foolish purchasing a 21kg winter melon at the market, but was pleasantly surprised to discover it was indeed effective.
She mentioned that by keeping the white wax on the melons, they can remain fresh longer.
Numerous people have bought these vegetables for their children and pets. Judging by how tightly they cling to the melons while asleep in the videos, it seems to provide significant benefits.
This method is also quite economical. One individual reported that her 14kg winter melon cost only 54 yuan (US$7.5).
Many have noted they could use the same melon for several days. However, one person cautioned against eating the melon, stating: 'The one people have slept with does not taste good.'
It is said that sleeping while hugging a winter melon is an ancient Chinese remedy for cooling down in the summer.
The vegetable contains over 95 per cent water, which aids in absorbing heat through skin contact.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also incorporates the vegetable's rind in prescriptions aimed at clearing heat from the body.
TCM expert Yang Zufu from the China Recovery Research Centre explained to People's Daily that this method can benefit those unable to use air conditioning, including the elderly, toddlers, and pregnant women.
However, individuals with weak spleens and stomachs are advised against pressing their bellies against the vegetable for extended periods, as it may exacerbate symptoms like stomach pain or diarrhoea.
Yang recommended that those with sensitivities wrap the melons in towels and position them at a slight distance to minimise side effects.
'Watermelon is also effective, but they're too delicious to resist,' one commenter remarked.
'It stops being funny when you try sleeping with one – it's really useful!' another noted.
A third chimed in: 'So that's why they named it winter melon – to bring some winter to the summer.' - South China Morning Post
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We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ('MIQ'). MIQ has been paid a fee for Oncolytics Biotech Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MIQ has been approved by Oncolytics Biotech Inc.; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment. Logo –

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