Hot and cold about summer

A summer dish that Dong Yi made with celtuce. DONG YI/FOR CHINA DAILY

From joyous celebrations to deep-seated complaints, summer experiences reflect a spectrum of personal and regional influences.

No other season evokes such polarized attitudes as summer. On Chinese social media, summer enthusiasts and detractors share posts, pictures, and videos to either celebrate or lament the season.

Icy watermelons, sparkling water, fireworks, green shades, evening breezes, and colorful dresses — these images encapsulate the summer memories or fantasies of those who love the season. For Zhang Suna from Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, these poetic depictions are a reality.

Summer is Zhang's favorite season. She even dedicated an episode of her podcast, "Yiran Ziqia" (meaning "remaining self-consistent"), to listing all the reasons she loves summer. Her cohost, Yumin (pseudonym) from Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, took the opposite stance, criticizing the inconveniences of summer in the same episode.

For Zhang, the greatest appeal of summer lies in its vitality. Lush plants, rich green hues, evening cicadas, and long daylight hours all signify life. She likens herself to a sun-loving plant.

"Whenever it gets cloudy, rainy, or snowy in winter, I get a bit emotional. But if the sun is out, no matter how hot it is, I feel happy. Summer gives me a sense of positivity and growth," she said. "Perhaps one's preference for a season is related to their personality."

The region where one lives also influences their perception of seasons. Zhang grew up in Harbin, where summers are relatively cool by Chinese standards.

"Harbin becomes very lively in summer, with events like concerts, beer festivals, and marathons. Locals enjoy strolling by the river or just sitting there and watching the birds," she said.