Southern winters

I'm not exactly new to the south of China. I've traveled the south extensively throughout my time in China. One thing that bugs me to no end is the fact that there is no insulation in the flats and buildings. This includes buildings in Hong Kong. Most buildings don't have central heating, radiators or any other form of heating. You have to fend for yourself when it comes to keeping warm.

In northern China, including Dalian where I spent the better part of 3 winters, the windows are double-paned, buildings are better insulated and there are radiator heaters in all buildings where the government burns coal to boil the water that supplies these buildings (that explains the grey/black dust on the ice/snow you see in northern China!). Each resident pays one price for the cost of heating for the winter. I can't remember the exact figure but I think it was around 500rmb for heating from approximately Nov 15 to March 15.

In southern China many businesses don't have heating. They leave their doors wide open and let the cold air in. I'm not really sure why they do this but it's not uncommon to see your breath indoors. As a Canadian, I don't find it cold in southern China, it rarely dips below 0c but when you are indoors and it's 15 degrees or cooler you definitely feel the cold, especially in the mornings. I have gotten used to sleeping with my head under the covers!

I find Chinese get sick more often and for longer periods of time than westerners. Perhaps it has to do with the chilly indoors, the fact that they take medicine any time they're remotely ill (thus building resistance to the meds) or perhaps China is more crowded than most western countries so flu bugs get passed around easier. Any other suggestions?

I know what you must be thinking, "just go out and buy an electric heater, you dummy!" Sure, most people do, but I personally don't find it unbearably cold. I wake up, run out to the bathroom for a hot shower and I feel fine the rest of the day. I do have to sit in a 14 degree teacher's room for most of the day and my hands do get a cold. I actually don't have any long sleeve shirts to wear that I could wear to work so I wear short sleeves to the amazement of co-workers and students. It's not a show off, I just honestly don't think it's that cold. I have a pretty good track record when it comes to illness as well: I've only had the flu once in almost 3 years in China. It must be all that garlic, onions, fruit and vegetables in my diet. Don't worry I brush my teeth and chew gum after every garlic/onion laced meal.

So the moral of the story is if you're traveling or moving to southern China, get ready to be feel the cool air indoors and outdoors. You can't escape it. I'm sitting in my teacher's room these days surrounded by 4 ill teachers. They are afraid of taking time off (the principal frowns on it and makes it difficult for them)and are probably giving each other the flu. Someone please hand me some vitamin C or at the very least a surgical mask!