"Cooler Than Air Conditioning?"...Sudden Midnight Stench and Burst: The Story Behind China's 'Natural Cooling Item'

Hugging Wax Gourds for Summer Relief
Popular Trend in China, but Risk of Explosion from Gas Build-up During Spoilage

In China, a summer trend of hugging massive wax gourds to cool off during the hot months has been gaining popularity. However, there have been increasing reports of the gourds suddenly bursting, resulting in bedding and floors being contaminated.

Children sleeping while hugging rice cakes. Chinese SNS

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on August 10 (local time), some Chinese people who slept with a wax gourd reported that a few days later the gourd exploded, spilling foul-smelling flesh and liquid. Wax gourds typically grow to a length of 25 to 60 centimeters, with some large varieties exceeding 90 centimeters; they belong to the gourd family of vegetables.

One woman living in Hubei Province, central China, said, “The rotten flesh and liquid ruined my bed sheets,” adding, “It was so disgusting that I had to throw away both the sheets and the wax gourd.” She continued, “At first, I was just trying to avoid the summer heat, but instead I ended up facing great inconvenience.” Another user stated, “The gourd burst, and the stench was unbearable. It smelled like a burst sewer pipe.”

The practice of sleeping while hugging a wax gourd during the summer is known as a traditional cooling method that originated in ancient China. Wax gourds are made up of about 95% water, which means direct contact with the skin allows the vegetable to absorb body heat. Experts explained that it works similarly to hugging a cold water bottle.

Since last year, more people in China have begun using wax gourds instead of air conditioners. This is largely due to concerns about catching a cold from air conditioning use, or a desire to save on electricity bills, leading people to try this alternative cooling method.

The appearance of a cracked copper vessel. Chinese SNS

However, experts explained that hugging the same gourd for several days could cause gases generated by the spoilage process to build up inside, resulting in an explosion. Ao Qingyan, senior agricultural specialist at the Chengdu Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, said, “When a person hugs a gourd all night under the covers, this creates a warm environment perfect for fermentation. If the wax layer on the gourd’s surface is damaged, microorganisms can invade and break down sugars and organic matter, during which carbon dioxide is produced. When the internal pressure rises, the gourd may burst.”

He recommended not using the same gourd for more than a week and checking its condition frequently. If any part of the gourd becomes soft, swollen, or emits a sour smell, it should be discarded immediately.

Ao added, “Hugging a wax gourd is just a temporary way to cool down at a low cost,” emphasizing, “but since there is a risk of the gourd bursting or mold forming, it is not an ideal cooling method.” He further suggested, “Air conditioners, cooling mats, or cooling pillows are safer and better alternatives.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.