Residents seek respite from scorching heat in northern provinces

Outdoor workers

Health experts have advised people to stay indoors, if possible in air-conditioned rooms, to wait out heat waves.

However, for workers such as electricians, railway maintenance employees and food delivery drivers, this is a luxury.

In Hebei and Heilongjiang provinces, where high temperature warnings have been issued in recent days, authorities raced to equip outdoor workers with heat-beating necessities. They also used cutting-edge technologies to minimize outdoor tasks under the scorching sun.

A group of female workers dressed in eye-catching yellow vests, and carrying large kettles, straw hats and sophisticated equipment, started work one day last week in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province

The workers' main responsibility is to inspect rail lines by using flaw detection instruments. These employees play a vital role in ensuring the safe and smooth passage of trains.