The sauna-like weather felt over the past few weeks in Beijing has made water parks and swimming pools very popular in downtown neighborhoods.

However, the shortage of water entertainment facilities cannot meet the demand of millions of urban people hoping to cool off and chill out. According to local Chinese media, about 90 percent of outdoor public swimming pools were closed this summer thanks to the skyrocketing price of water.

So even though Beijing is wading through one of the hottest summers in recent years, only a few of the city's water parks are open. But fear not, lots of indoor swimming pools and some water parks are still open for visitors. But the prices are a bit more expensive than usual.

All the reservoirs in suburban Beijing are not open to the public for water sports because of their function providing drinking water for Beijing residents. In recent years, that ban has been expanded to also include lakes in the city centre.

Here are some recommended sites for people to escape the hot weather, catch some shade or get wet:

Beijing City Seaview Resort -- the largest artificial bathing beach in China -- is attracting swimmers away from indoor swimming pools.

Located on the northern outskirts of Beijing (about 15 kilometers north of the Sanyuan Overpass on the North Third Ring Road), the artificial bathing beach opened to the public in 2000.

The 20,000-square-meter seawater area has waves driven by 12 wave-making machines.

You will find complementary lounge chairs and thatched huts on the beach provide shade. Complementary beach towels are available at the pool desk.

A beach volleyball net is located on the sandy beach and the volleyball may be signed out for use at the pool desk.

Cost: 60 yuan (US$7.50) for each adult and 40 yuan (US$5) per child. The ticket includes most of the entertainment services on the bathing beach.

Telephone: 84319689 84310885 (Chinese only)

Parks with large lakes like the Summer Palace, Chaoyang Park, Longtanhu Park and Jiulonghu Park are also a little cooler than other places in downtown, although you won't be able to take a dip.

If you live near a college or university, the campuses are also worth a look. Usually, campuses boast vast areas of trees, lakes and grasslands. Temperatures on campuses like Tsinghua University and Peking University are generally five degrees lower than the outside urban area. July and August are the time that college students go home for summer vacation, so quiet campuses attract people for casual strolls in the evening.

Need a bit of a splash? The following sites offer swimming, so you can take the plunge and escape the sun.

Dongdan Swimming Hall

Address: A2, Dahua Road, Dongcheng District

Tel: 65231241

Price: 30 yuan (US$3.60) per person

East Lake Club Indoor Pool

Address: 35, Dongzhimenwai Dajie

Tel: 64678221

Price: Free (but members only)

Beijing Jingshan School Indoor Pool

Address: Dengshixikou, Dongcheng District.

Tel: 65223421

Price: 15 (US$2) to 20 yuan (US$2.50) per person for one hour and a half.

Youth Lake World

Address: Youth Lake Park

Tel: 64216224

Price: 15 yuan (US$2) per person for 3 hours.

Ditan Indoor Pool

Address: 116, Anwai Dajie, Dongcheng District

Tel: 64264288

Price: 20 yuan (US$2.50)

Xidan Culture Plaza Indoor Pool

Address: Xidan Culture Plaza

Tel: 66063273

Price: 20 yuan (US$2.5)

Zizhu Building Indoor Pool

Address: Northeast of Xizhimen Bridge

Tel: 62254411

Price: 20 yuan (US$2.50) per person for one hour and a half

Yuetan Indoor Pool

Address: A1, Yuetan Nanjie

Tel: 68527282

Price: 15 yuan (US$2)

Beijing Gymnasium Indoor Pool

Address: 4, Tiyu Road, Chongwen District

Tel: 67112266

Price: 20 yuan (US$2.50) for one hour and a half

Temple of Heaven Indoor Pool

Address: 4, Tiantan Donglu

Tel: 67017562

Price : 15 yuan (US$2) per person

Xuanwu Gymnasium Indoor Pool

Address: 2, Baiguang Road, Xuanwu District

Tel: 63543311

Price: 10 yuan (US$1.20) for one hour and a half

Taoranting Swimming Hall

Address: Taoranting Park, Xuanwu District

Tel: 63536526

Price: 10 yuan (US$1.20)

Great Wall Hotel Indoor Pool

Address: North Road, East Third Ring

Tel: 65905566

Price: 150 yuan (US$18) per person

Red Scarf Park Swimming Hall

Address: No. 3 Amateur Physical Training School for Kids

Tel: 85830714

Price : 10 yuan (US$1.20)

Yingdong Swim Dive

Address: Olympic Gym, Chaoyang District

Tel: 64912233

Price: 40 yuan (US$5)

Longtan Lake Indoor Pool

Address: Longtan Lake Road, Chaoyang District

Tel: 67131103

Price: 15 yuan (US$2)

Workers' Stadium Indoor Pool

Address: the Workers' Stadium

Tel: 65016655-5150

Price: 15 yuan (US$2)

Haidian Indoor Pool

Address: Sports Center, Haidian District

Tel: 62642626

Price: 10 yuan (US$1.20) for one hour

Sai'ou Gymnasium

Address: 3, Diwangfen, West Road of the Third Ring

Tel: 63462318

(China Daily July 29, 2005)