With Shanghai sweltering under a record-breaking heatwave, locals are flocking to an unlikely refuge: the slopes of one of the world’s largest indoor ski resorts.

For 23 straight days, the city has endured temperatures at or above 35 °C (95 °F), prompting thousands to escape the oppressive summer by heading to the Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort. The vast complex spans 98,000 square meters and maintains a crisp year-round temperature of under 5 °C (41 °F).

Inside, visitors trade shorts and sandals for ski gear, carving down snow-covered slopes, snowboarding, and even enjoying snowball fights. “It feels like a fridge inside,” said one 10-year-old visitor, delighted by the icy respite compared with the “pot” of heat outdoors.

Shanghai authorities have issued an orange heat alert, the city’s second-highest warning level, cautioning that the extreme conditions are expected to persist through the end of August.

Climate experts note that heatwaves of this severity are becoming increasingly common due to human-driven climate change. Ironically, the energy-intensive cooling measures behind such resorts also highlight the environmental challenges of adapting to hotter summers.

For now, however, the icy slopes offer a welcome escape for residents desperate to beat the heat.