Sm Nahiduzzaman
Beijing, September 9, 2025 — China is going through one of the climate years that are superlative in the last few decades, the country-wise. While the northern area of China is experiencing its most extended rainy season (since 1961), China as a whole is facing what the scientists are calling the hottest summer ever, and as a result, communities, agriculture, and infrastructure are suffering at the limit.
A Summer of Contradictions: Rain and Scorching Heat
One of the paradoxes of Chinese summer is the excessive measures that characterize it. The northern part of China is going through the longest continuous rainfall of the 62 years, and it affected Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia, accordingly. Farmers witness the waterlogging of their lands and crops rotting due to overgrowth. Besides that, infrastructures like roads and rural houses are getting affected by the heavy rains that have been going on for a long time.
Along with these, the southern and central parts were also not safe from the sun as they were heated up by the exhausting hot spells. The heat in such places as Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanjing skyrocketed to above 40°C (104°F) several times, which means that this summer is the hottest the CMA has ever recorded.
“China is witnessing the very opposite of the same thing,” explains Zhang Lina, the CMA climatologist who works in the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). “The north is overflooded with water, and the south is on fire. The result of both these phenomena is the same – global climate change is their main culprit, and it is also responsible for the enhancement of natural variability.”
Historical Comparisons: 1961 vs 2025
North China has not experienced heavy rains like these since 1961, a year that was marked by floods and widespread famine. Nevertheless, scientists point out that the 2025 event is much more complicated due to the combination of warmer seas, changing monsoon patterns, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
It’s different this time in the history of the 60s when China was mostly rural and less industrialized. The current heavy rains put not only large cities at risk but also the multiple infrastructures of the sprawling metropolis. Underground railways, roads, and airports in the cities of Beijing and Tianjin are the places where water from brief thunderstorms has caused numerous interruptions, thus making a case for climate extremes as one of the urban centers weak point.
Human and Economic Costs
The long and continuous rainy season has left tens of thousands without homes in the Hebei and Shanxi provinces. Due to overflowing rivers and mudslides, villages located at the foot of hills have lost access to their homes and evacuation is the only option. On the other side of the spectrum, the blistering heat along the southern parts has caused so many power outages that the demand for air conditioning has pushed the electric grid far beyond its capabilities.
Financial experts forecast a devastation in the farming industry worth more than $5 billion of which rice and wheat yields will be affected the most. In addition to that, farmers rearing animals for meat are experiencing the continuous death of cattle due to the heat whereas aquatic food industries in the southern provinces are witnessing rapid fish death because of the ascent of the water temperature.
“No foodstuff of the entire supply system is in a good condition – from agriculture to animal husbandry and fisheries,” declared Li Wei, an agricultural economist from Tsinghua University. “This is not referring only to climate change but rather the issues of food availability, job opportunities, and national tranquility.”
Global Climate Patterns at Play
Meteorologists attribute the unusual weather to a combination of El Niño’s lingering effects and long-term climate warming. Warmer air holds more moisture, which increases rainfall intensity in northern latitudes, while heat domes — high-pressure systems trapping hot air — bake southern China.
China is not alone in facing climate extremes this year. Japan, South Korea, and India have also reported erratic monsoons and record-breaking heatwaves. Globally, 2025 is projected to become the hottest year in recorded history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Voices from the Ground
For ordinary citizens, the extreme weather has become both a daily hardship and a reminder of shifting climate realities.
“Every morning we wake up wondering if the rain will stop,” said Chen Rong, a farmer in Hebei. “We’ve lost nearly half our wheat crop. My grandfather told me about 1961, but he also said he had never seen so much water.”
Meanwhile in Wuhan, university student Liu Xia described the unbearable heat: “We stayed inside for days with fans running non-stop. Even at night, it felt like living inside an oven.”
These voices reflect the growing anxiety among Chinese communities as climate extremes become more frequent and intense.
Scientific Warnings and Long-Term Outlook
Climate scientists warn that unless global greenhouse gas emissions are curbed, China will face even more severe weather in the coming decades. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that East Asia will see a 40% increase in extreme rainfall events by mid-century, alongside more frequent and longer-lasting heatwaves.
China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. However, experts argue that adaptation measures must accelerate immediately to protect vulnerable populations.
Government Response
The Chinese government has mobilized emergency response teams in flood-hit provinces, deploying soldiers to build makeshift dams and evacuate residents. Authorities have also issued nationwide high-temperature alerts, advising people to limit outdoor activities and conserve energy.
In Beijing, city officials have pledged billions of yuan for upgrading drainage systems and expanding green infrastructure to absorb excess rainwater. Meanwhile, southern cities are experimenting with “cool roofs,” reflective coatings that reduce building heat absorption, in an effort to counter soaring temperatures.
The government has also emphasized public education campaigns about climate resilience, encouraging citizens to prepare for both flooding and heat-related emergencies, including stockpiling drinking water, emergency kits, and heat-relief measures for vulnerable populations.
A Test of Resilience
The 2025 summer has become a test of China’s resilience — economically, socially, and politically. Balancing flood defenses in the north and heat mitigation in the south will require coordinated strategies that stretch from local governments to the central leadership in Beijing.
“China’s climate reality is no longer a distant future,” said Professor Zhang Lina. “It’s here, it’s now, and it demands urgent action.”
While the summer’s extremes are alarming, some experts note that heightened public awareness and government investment in climate adaptation may improve resilience over time. Cities that invest in flood-resilient infrastructure, heat mitigation technologies, and early warning systems are more likely to weather future climate shocks.
For now, the nation remains caught between unending rains in the north and searing heat in the south, a stark reminder that climate change does not strike uniformly but rather in chaotic extremes.
At Last, The unprecedented extremes of 2025 — with North China enduring its longest rainy season since 1961 and southern regions facing record-breaking heat — serve as a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change. From flooded farmlands and displaced communities to soaring energy demand and ecological stress, the human, economic, and environmental toll is undeniable.
As China navigates these challenges, the events of this summer highlight the urgent need for climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable planning. They also emphasize that extreme weather is not a distant threat but a present reality that affects every sector of society. Ultimately, the resilience of communities, governments, and ecosystems will determine how well the nation can withstand future climate shocks — a test that is already underway in the rain-soaked north and the scorched south.
