ඇඟේ පතේ රුදා අඩුකරන 'වැලි නෑම'

Heatwave boosts sand bathing tourism in Xinjiang

A heat wave has swept through northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since Monday, sending temperatures soaring and boosting the popularity of therapeutic sand bathing.

According to the local weather service, the high temperatures in the region will last for about a week. In some cities, the temperature may rise to 37 degrees, while in others it may reach 40 degrees.

"From June 11 to 14 in northern Xinjiang and until June 16 in southern Xinjiang, the region will enter the longest and relatively intense high temperature period this year," said Lu Xinsheng, chief forecaster at the Xinjiang Meteorological Station.

In a plus for the local economy, the heatwave has boosted the popularity of sand bathing, a practice believed to help alleviate aches and pains caused by cold and dampness.

Visitors from across the country flocked to Turpan in eastern Xinjiang, a city that often tops the list of the hottest areas in China, to drink hot tea and bathe in sand where surface temperatures can reach 70 degrees.

The influx of sand bathers is also a boon for local restaurants and homestays, which are expecting increased visitors throughout the summer.

"June to September is the golden period for sand bathing every year. We welcomed a total of about 100,000 people last year and we hope to welcome more this year," said Keramu Abdirahim, a local sand bathing therapist.

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