Right: A man wearing a facekini swims in the Songhua river in a temperature of 33 degree Celsius in Jilin, Northeast China's Jilin province, July 9, 2015. [Photo:China Daily]

Left: Two women wear masks and long sleeves while handing out leaflets on a street in Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, June 27, 2015. [Photo:CFP]

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) last Sunday issued a yellow alert for high temperatures as China is entering the height of summer.

A heat wave will hit central, eastern and northern China on Monday with temperatures in some regions rising to around 40 degrees Celsius, the NMC forecasted.

And today is the first day of the traditional "dog days," the hottest days of the summer. In modern times, people have air conditioners to help them get through the hot days.

Left: A man puts a wet towel on his head to ward off a temperature of 34 degree Celsius at Tiananmen Square, Beijing, July 11, 2015. [Photo:CFP]

Right: Participants play Chinese chess at a water-themed park in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, July 7, 2015. [Photo:CFP]

In the 1970s and 1980s, people in China also had their own unique ways to live through the hottest days without any modern solutions.

So here are some sweet and sour memories about the dog days in the past.

Let's take a look at their "Special Solutions"

Take a Bath in the Pond

[Photo:Souhu]

There were always many pits on the road which were the closed brick kilns from Ming or Qing Dynasty (1367AD-1911AD). The pits would become water ponds where people could swim in or take a bath.

Summer Sleeping Mat

[Photo: Souhu]

In the past, people had difficulties to fall asleep during dog days and the best solution was using a sleeping mat which was made of bamboos. People often use cold water to wash the mat before they sleep on it.

Ice Bars

[Photo: Souhu]

Ice bars were always under the thick blanket which could isolate the heat to reach the ice bars. The ice bars were much simpler than the modern ones but they were really helpful for many people in the summer time. So many people even waited in lines to get one ice bar.

Draughts in the Courtyard

[Photo: Souhu]

Courtyards were common in north China. People could enjoy the draughts between doors when they sit in the yards.

Stay in Hutongs under the Old Trees

[Photo: Souhu]

Children in the North stayed under Pagoda Trees an told each other ghost stories and fought crickets.

Drink Cold Water from Wells

[Photo: Souhu]

People who lived in the Hutongs enjoyed the cold water from the wells in their courtyards before the existence of water pumps.