Fans, parasols and bottled water keep visitors on the Bund sane in the sun. Photo: IC

Crank the air-con to "11" and throw out all social conventions regarding appropriate dress, as the Shanghai summer heat comes back with a vengeance. With the mercury touching close to 40 degrees, the midday heat feels like a furnace, while rush hour commuting is even more hellish than usual.

As meteorologists warn this is going to be one of the hottest summers on record, people are doing what they can to stay safe - and sane - in the high temperatures. The Global Times recently braved the steamy asphalt to ask expats and foreign visitors to the city how they are holding up under the heat, and what coping strategies they recommend for keeping a cool head.

Teodosio, student, Italy

Right now I'm trying to clean the salt from the sweat off my T-shirt using water from a convenience store. We've been out all day and walked a lot but now we're going to have a drink with some friends, so I want to look presentable. I sweat a lot. In fact, I always sweat like this. This is the first time I've come to a convenience store to clean myself off. It's working. It's cleaning off well. I've been in Shanghai for four months, so this is my first Shanghai summer.

Tracey Roper, manufacturing expert, the UK

My strategy for dealing with the heat in Shanghai involves wet wipes and pure lace bras. For example, you are out, you go to the bathroom, and you go to the mirror, and what you get is boob sweat, which you deal with using the wet wipes. However, make sure you lock the door. I'm not kidding! A poor barman walked in on me - it was not a proud moment. But I was refreshed afterward.

Also facial mist spray. And dry shampoo - it's like talcum powder for your hair. If you get sweaty, it clears it up. I've been away from England for eight years and every country I've been to has been hot so I've built up this sweat survival kit.

Barney Rivera, student, Mexico

I walk around with toilet paper so I can wipe the sweat away. I'm used to this heat because where I'm from it gets 10 degrees hotter than this.

The record in my hometown is 56 degrees. We often deal with it using air conditioning, lots of ice, and fans.

I think Shanghai is not at the level of heat where people should be complaining too much. When I hear people complaining about heat in the thirties, it doesn't matter if it's 39, I say "you guys have it really nice here."

A cool summer where I come from is around 45 degrees. The only thing that's kind of troubling is the humidity.

I also grew up further south in Mexico where the temperature is around 42 degrees with 80 percent to 100 percent humidity. You take a shower, walk outside and after two minutes you need to take another shower.

Irene Wu, restaurateur, the US

I stay in my tiny apartment and turn on the air-con. I'm in the restaurant industry so I hadn't been at home during the day in this heat until today - this is the first day after quitting my job. Today I woke up at 7 am and did my laundry, hung my clothes and by 9 am my clothes were dry, then I went back to bed.

The trick with drying laundry in this heat is not to leave it out too long. If you do, it starts to smell. If I were outside in this heat, I would find the nearest department store and just stand on the escalators, circulating in the air-con as people watch.

Stewart Robertson, entrepreneur, the UK

I was here two years ago, when it was 40 degrees every day during my stay. You just get on with it. You act like it's not there. You accept it's warm, you put on some shorts, and then you go. That's it.

I have air-con in my room, but I can spend unlimited time outside. Because we're Scottish, we're used to really bad weather, so today we sat outside every place we went to. I play tennis and work out in this heat. I do it for as long as I can then stop, rest, have a drink of water and go back to my apartment. You sweat lots. It's a good workout. Then I go back out at night and sit outside and accept it.

Emma Robertson, bar manager, the UK

I carry a bag of wet wipes to use on my face or the back of my neck. I'm fine with the heat. I've been to Dubai, but then I was generally by the pool in my bikini. I spend time outside. I put as much grease on my hair as possible otherwise it goes frizzy. I drink lots of water. But it's fine, not a big deal.

John Simeone, shipping, the UK

I've spent time in a number of hot places, but I still don't enjoy this kind of heat. I think the most important thing is staying hydrated, but also getting a restful sleep. Unfortunately, that usually means sleeping with the air conditioner on, although I'll avoid that if I can. I've found those bamboo mats they sell here for putting on beds really help reduce sweating at night. Also a free-standing electric fan rather than air-con if possible.

Fran Bailes, teacher, the US

I'm fine with the heat as long as I don't have to do anything. But working when it's this hot is super tiring. Especially if you are teaching and on your feet for hours on end. I make sure I have chilled water available - which means frequent trips to the convenience store, because the water coolers at my school don't actually cool the water. I hate feeling sweaty all the time. I'm looking forward to this weekend as I'm planning a trip to an outdoor pool with some friends.