Some like it cold, but still love public heating day

Some like it cold. It's akin to the lesser-known sequel to the Marilyn Monroe (1926-62) classic Some Like It Hot (1959). Personally, I'm a huge fan of both the cold and the late-50s blockbuster. Who could forget the instant classic when Jack Lemmon's cross-dressing character Daphne leaves old-money aging tycoon Osgood Fielding III (Joe E.Brown) smitten? In the film's final scene, the two are on the rich old man's yacht when Osgood explains to his love interest that his mother wants "her" to wear his mom's wedding dress when the two get hitched. Daphne, knowing her goose is cooked, begins running through a list of excuses why she can't wed Osgood, but he dismisses them one after another. Out of sheer desperation, Daphne removes his wig and confesses, "You don't understand Osgood; I'm a man!" The senior tycoon simply smiles and says, "Well, nobody's perfect."

Perfect line to end a perfect movie. It received a white-hot reception in cinemas at the time, which segues seamlessly with the theme of this piece: some like it cold.

As residents of China's capital well know, on Nov 15, public heating will be turned on, with radiators warming domiciles until March 15, exactly four months later. For me, this is a red-letter day, but not for the reasons most people would cite. Radiators make for a very efficient clothes-drying alternative to clunky, energy-gulping, space-hoarding dryers. Think of it: prior to Nov 15, sock and brief-wearing denizens of the capital were literally forced to air their (clean) laundry on a matrix of balcony-bound ropes, strings and hooks. Not a good look from a neighbor's vantage point. But with wall-mounted radiators in nearly every room, even sopping wet dungarees can be water-free in short order, further hastened to aridity by strategically placed oscillating fans. All the while, one's neighbors are none the wiser as to how far behind in your laundry chores you've fallen.

Another upside to life in Beijing post-Nov 15 specifically applies to pet owners. Whether it be dogs, cats or woolly mammoths, when the master's away, it's good to know our furry friends can cuddle up beside a heating unit when the room temperature plummets. This allows pets to control their own environment by simply shifting napping locations and is much more efficient than buying doggie jackets that impede movement and prevent four-legged friends from scratching itches.

In other words, public heating is like having a live-in au pair on call 24-7 to ensure Fido's personal comfort and body temperature are well monitored and maintained.

City officials may adjust the heating schedule based on on-the-ground weather conditions, emphasizing that such temporal flexibility is key to managing energy resources and responding to unexpected cold snaps.

I don't think I'm the only one who eagerly anticipates the return of radiators despite loving the deep chill of winter. Well, let's ask the ancients for clarification.

Homesick Winter Solstice Night in Handan by Bai Juyi (772-846) seems to disagree with my sentiments, as the poet didn't go out of his way to romanticize the Winter Solstice, which takes place on Dec 21 and marks the astronomical first day of the season in the Northern Hemisphere.

At the courier station of Handan on Winter Solstice night, my arms clasping my knees, only my shadow is accompanying me.

My family might sit for a long time, talking about me now at this moment.

Something tells me Bai Juyi wasn't provided with public heating in Handan, Hebei province, at the time.

Contact the writer at andrew@chinadaily.com.cn