Beijing heat too much for African tourist

With surface temperatures in Tiananmen Square at noon on Thursday reportedly close to 60 degrees Celsius, no wonder there were a few casualties.

An African tourist suffering sunstroke in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on July 13, 2017. [Photo: Weibo]

But you don’t expect to see African tourist suffering from sunstroke!

Images of an unfortunate tourist, sitting under an umbrella with a white towel around his head have been circulating widely on the internet, showing that even those used to high temperatures can be seriously affected. 

The 60-year-old man became ill on Thursday morning, while touring the sights of Beijing. His fellow traveler and their guide turned to the local police for help, reports the Beijing News.

The police managed to find a shady place in the vast square, and called the emergency services, who gave the man first aid and a checkup. He was then sent on his way.

Armed police on guard at Tiananmen Square sharing water to help prevent sunstroke. [Photo: Global Times]

Beijing, along with large parts of northern China, has been basking in high temperatures since the beginning of the week.

On Thursday, the National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for heat, with temperatures generally predicted to rise above 35 degrees Celsius in some areas, including parts of Beijing, Hebei, and Shandong.