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    Foreign tourists enjoy hotpot while watching a Sichuan Opera face-changing performance inside a former air-raid shelter at the Underground City hotpot restaurant in Liangjiang New Area of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)Despite outdoor temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Australian tourist Roy Rostand was enjoying hotpot at a restaurant without air conditioning, apparently feeling no discomfort from the summer heat.
The answer to his comfort lies in the restaurant's unlikely location. This hotpot restaurant, named Underground City, is hidden inside a former air-raid shelter, one of the city's distinctive spaces offering natural coolness.
"It's amazing that the restaurant stays so cool even in scorching summer heat," Rostand said. "Chongqing has given me the chance to experience something I can't find in Australia."
Chongqing has long been dubbed one of China's "furnace cities" for its sweltering, humid summers. In July alone, the city endured 26 consecutive days of high heat, with temperatures breaching 40 degrees Celsius for a full week and topping out at a scorching 41.6 degrees.
The blazing heat, however, has failed to dampen the enthusiasm of global travelers. According to the Chongqing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, more than 610,000 inbound and outbound trips by foreign nationals were recorded at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in the first half of the year, marking an 86-percent surge year on year. The top five source countries were Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia.
European travelers proved to be a standout growth driver. Data from Trip.com shows that as of July 21, inbound travel bookings from Europe to Chongqing for this summer season climbed by over 40 percent year on year, while scenic spot ticket orders surged by 214.7 percent and activity-based bookings rocketed by a staggering 6,900 percent.
Thanks to China's visa-free policies and other travel facilitation measures, Chongqing is rapidly gaining traction as a go-to "coolcation" hotspot for international visitors. Creative cool-off spaces, diverse travel experiences and comprehensive summer services have all contributed to its rising appeal.
UNDERGROUND COOL
Chongqing's summer cooling secrets were first found underground. Since the late 1930s, the city has carved thousands of air-raid shelters into its mountainous terrain.
Once serving as sanctuaries for civilians during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, these spaces have now been repurposed as hotpot restaurants, tea houses and venues for Sichuan Opera performances, providing both refreshing coolness and preserving the city's living memories.
"The temperature inside the shelters remains around 25 degrees Celsius all year round, making them natural cool retreats," explained Wang Jing, marketing director of Underground City.
"We serve more than 300 tables a day on weekends," she added. "Right now, about one in every six diners is from overseas. And we're seeing more and more visitors from Southeast Asia and Europe."
Annika, a tourist from Germany, revealed that the restaurant has gone viral on overseas social media platforms. "We were attracted not only by this unique way of escaping the summer heat, but also by the opportunity to dine in a place filled with history and culture," she said.
CHASING CHILL
On August 1, Chongqing issued an orange heat alert. At a water park in its Fuling District, 10 tonnes of industrial ice were dumped directly into the wave pool. Half-submerged in the refreshing water, visitors could splash around or even play mahjong at custom-made tables in the pool.
This unique summer cooling scene has attracted coverage from mainstream media in countries including Russia and Canada, with overseas outlets reportedly dubbing it the most intriguing summer spectacle in China this year.
At Chongqing Xingrui international travel service, inquiries from cross-border travelers hailing from hot and humid regions such as Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia have risen notably in recent weeks.
Peng Hengcong, head of the travel agency, said they have rolled out themed tour products, including "cool retreats in the mountains" and "gorge rapids adventures," tailored to overseas visitors seeking summer cooling experiences. These products cover areas with higher altitudes or rich water systems in Chongqing, with the highlight being a "23°C summer" experience.
Luo Zibai, an expert with the China Tourism Academy, believes that Chongqing's sustained popularity among travelers lies in its ability to fully leverage its distinctive strengths and develop differentiated tourism products that offer a broad spectrum of experiences.
URBAN REFUGE
Chongqing is weaving a citywide "cooling network" -- ranging from shopping malls to public facilities, and from indoor spaces to outdoor areas.
At a shopping mall called The Ring in the city, visitors are greeted not by endless rows of shops, but by a lush indoor rainforest. With misting systems and carefully designed lighting, the mall keeps the temperature at about 21 degrees Celsius, creating a cool, dreamy summer escape.
"I like Chongqing a lot because it has its own character," said Bilal Badri, who was visiting from the Netherlands. "The way nature and the city's landscape blend together here is just perfect."
The cool experience extends beyond the mall. In the Mountain City Alley historic district, a 400-meter-long pedestrian walkway has been transformed into a "cooling corridor," where misting systems and shaded areas reduce the perceived temperature by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.
In addition, since July 8, Chongqing's rail transit system has set up cooling zones in 158 metro stations, offering free air-conditioned spaces and heat-relief supplies to residents and tourists alike.
"Chongqing's creative and thoughtful ways to help people beat the summer heat are impressive. It's really interesting to discover these unique experiences," said Alexandra, a Romanian tourist. "This time I didn't stay long enough to explore more of the city, and I'm planning to come back in the near future."
。    Mohanlal is stepping into yet another exciting phase of his career, and this time he is returning to a space where he has delivered some of his most memorable performances. Ashiq Usman Productions has officially confirmed a new film that reunites the legendary actor with director Tharun Moorthy. The announcement arrived with a photo that featured Mohanlal alongside the creative heads, instantly sparking interest among fans and industry watchers. The collaboration follows the spectacular success of Thudarum, which cemented Tharun Moorthy as one of the most promising storytellers in Malayalam cinema.The new film is written by Ratheesh Ravi, a screenwriter known for his ability to create emotionally grounded, socially aware stories. His works, including Pullikkaran Staraa, Ishq, and Adi, showcase a writing style rooted in realism and moral tension. This new collaboration is expected to carry the same narrative strength, although the makers are holding back details of the story for now. Early conversations around the film suggest that Mohanlal will once again step into the police uniform, a role that audiences have loved him in for decades. However, insiders insist that the storyline is entirely different from anything the actor has done recently.Shaji Kumar has been brought on board as the cinematographer. His long association with Mohanlal has given Malayalam cinema some unforgettable frames. They have previously worked together on films such as Naran, Pulimurugan, and most recently Thudarum. His visual sensibilities have always meshed well with Mohanlal’s on-screen language, and their partnership has often resulted in rich, atmospheric storytelling. The team that has been assembled so far hints at a production that aims for both scale and emotional depth.                                                                 View this post on Instagram          A post shared by Ashiq Usman Productions (@ashiqusmanproductions_)                              A Previous Project Falls Away, Opening Space for a New Idea     This announcement comes right after a surprising development from the same production house. Earlier in the year, Ashiq Usman Productions had revealed another Mohanlal film written by Ratheesh Ravi, with debutant Austin Dan Thomas set to direct. The project, initially called L 365, was meant to showcase Mohanlal in a police officer role after a considerable gap. The film made headlines at the time, but new information suggests that the project has now been shelved entirely. The reasons have not been disclosed, but sources close to the team indicate that the creative direction shifted and the new Tharun Moorthy film will explore a different policing narrative.It is a rare situation where a cancelled project ends up clearing the path for a collaboration that fans were already hoping to see. Mohanlal and Tharun Moorthy had expressed interest in reuniting earlier, and this new film seems to have arrived at the right moment. The two were also planning another project with producer M Renjith, which was revealed during the celebratory event for Thudarum. The status of that film remains unclear, leaving observers curious about which project will go into production first.          Tharun Moorthy’s Expanding Slate and What It Means for the Industry     Tharun Moorthy is steadily becoming one of the most sought after directors in Malayalam cinema. His upcoming schedule reflects a filmmaker in high demand. Apart from the new Mohanlal film, he is working on Torpedo, a star-studded venture that brings together Fahadh Faasil, Naslen, Arjun Das, and Ganapathi. He is also preparing Operation Cambodia, with Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. This project functions as the sequel to Operation Java, the film that announced Tharun’s arrival as an exciting new voice in the industry.The reunion with Mohanlal adds another layer of anticipation. Their first film together established a creative partnership that clearly resonated with audiences. The decision to return with a story that reportedly explores the police force once again suggests a synthesis of craft and star power. With Ashiq Usman Productions backing the venture, expectations for strong production values and a story with emotional weight are already taking shape.As fans await further announcements, the industry is watching closely. This new collaboration feels like the beginning of another significant chapter for both Mohanlal and Tharun Moorthy, one that may shape the next season of Malayalam cinema.Also Read: Pranav Mohanlal’s Dies Irae All Set to Bring Chills to Streaming Platform。

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