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

South China Morning Post

19-07-2025

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.
A resident from northern China's Tianjin municipality is reported to be one of the first to popularise this effective cooling technique that sparked the trend. Photo: RedNote
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.