EXPLAINER: Why Beijing Has Central Heating
By Ned Kelly
The Explainer is where we explain an aspect of Chinese life. Simple. So now you know.
Brrr. It's getting a little nippy out there. But for Beijingren the long wait is nearly over - for November 15 is Gong Nuan Ri 供暖日, or 'Heating Day.' Meanwhile, down in Shanghai, folk remain shivering under their air con units, as warm air wafting out ineffectually intermingles with the clouds of condensation they are are breathing out.
Ever wondered wei shen me?
The allocation of central heating is actually tied into the period of central planning (1950-80) when the Chinese government established free winter heating of homes and offices via the provision of free coal for fuel boilers as a basic right.
Due to budgetary limitations, however, this heating entitlement was only extended to areas to the north of the geographical dividing line between northern and southern China - the Huai River-Qin Mountains Line. The logic being that they have a longer winter, which last for at least 90 days (meteorologically, a winter day is defined in China as when the average daily temperature falls below 5 C).
So while Beijingers bask, Shanghairen are left out in the cold. Or in in the cold, as it were...
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