While many places are sweltering through summer, Guizhou offers a naturally cool escape. Thanks to its elevation and geography, the province maintains an average summer temperature of around 23°C, while its karst landscape provides another surprising way to beat the heat – by heading underground.

In Xiuwen County, Guizhou Province, natural caves are being transformed into unique leisure spaces, including cave cafes and reading rooms. One cave cafe stays at around 16°C, allowing visitors to sip coffee, browse books and take in its dramatic limestone formations while enjoying the natural coolness of the cave. Developed with environmental assessments and designed to avoid disturbing the cave's ecosystem or altering its structure, these underground escapes are offering visitors a refreshing way to experience Guizhou's summer.