Cooling Down in Chongqing: A Tale of Repurposed Defiance Chongqing's underground cooling shelters have been a summer lifeline for residents, but this public welfare project is more than just a convenient escape from the heat.
It's a testament to the city's resilience and adaptability in the face of extreme weather conditions. The 44 shelters were originally built as air raid shelters during World War II.
In 2002, the Chongqing National Defence Mobilisation Office began converting these facilities into free public cooling centers.