Nowadays, air conditioning and electric fans help people beat the summer heat. But in ancient times, without such appliances, how did people find relief? Some cultural items collected at the Palace Museum in Beijing can help us figure out how Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) royal families, who lived inside the Forbidden City, spent their summer days.
现代人用空调、电扇等消暑，但古时候没有这些，人们又是如何抵挡暑热的呢？这期乐学我们就借北京故宫博物院里的若干文物，讲一讲清朝时紫禁城里的消夏良方。
Summer food and drinks in the royal court were mainly various kinds of melons and fruits, as well as tribute tea from around the country. When the emperors met officials, read books or memorials, they drank green tea, scented tea or milk tea. These drinks are refreshing and offer respite from the summer heat.
皇家在夏季的主要食物和饮品是各色瓜果，以及各地进奉的上等好茶。皇帝接见群臣或理政读书时，或饮绿茶、或饮花茶、或饮奶子茶，既提神，又解暑。

Iceboxes made of wood were widely used in the Qing royal court. Due to the weak conductivity of heat, lead or tin was put inside the box to extend the hours for preserving the natural ice. Many historical materials record emperors, empresses and imperial concubines using such a box to keep food like melons and fruits cool on hot summer days.
清代宫廷已经普遍使用木制"冰箱"，其采用导热性较弱的铅或锡为里，以延长天然冰的使用时间。史书多有记载，清朝的皇帝皇后及后妃用"冰箱"储存瓜果，让其在炎炎夏日变得清凉可口。
Clothing for Qing Dynasty emperors was complicated and can be categorized according to different purposes, such as ritual clothes, auspicious clothes, traveling clothes and rain suits. And according to season, there were winter clothes and summer clothes.
清代皇帝的服装极为繁复，根据穿着用途有礼服、吉服、常服、行服和雨服等之分。根据季节则有冬夏之分。
Summer costumes for the royals were mainly made of fabrics like yarn and silk. The materials are permeable, which keep the wearer cool.
皇室成员夏季服装的面料以纱和绢为主，穿上透气性好，凉爽宜人。

Many features of the architecture in the Forbidden City helped relieve summer heat. The Zhizhai window, or hung and removable window, was a great invention. The upper part can be pulled up for ventilation, while the lower part can be removed to allow more light in.
为了避暑，紫禁城建筑上采取的降温措施很多，如宫殿的支摘窗就是一种很不错的发明，它上部可以支起通风，下部可以摘下透光。
The royal family could even enjoy an air-conditioned room in ancient times. As the iceboxes often had air holes, it could be used to cool the temperature of the room.
此外，清朝皇室已经开始享用"空调屋"——就是在"冰箱"上钻孔，让室温下降。
The fan was another necessity for royals on summer days. Fans at the royal court varied widely. Exquisitely made, they were more than a tool for cooling people down; they were extraordinary works of art.
皇家还有一种消暑神器不得不提，那就是扇子。清代宫廷中的扇子，多种多样，用料上乘讲究，除了带给人们清风徐来的实际功用，俨然已是艺术品。