---
title: "Fog Instead of Air Conditioners: How the Chinese City of Yuncheng Fights Heat with High-Altitude Sprayers"
description: "The Chinese city of Yuncheng has implemented a high-altitude fog spraying system to combat heat. The technology allows for a temperature drop of 5–8 degrees and cleans the air of dust, but requires ideal water filtration. We analyze the pros and cons of this innovation. 🌫️🏙️"
date: 2026-07-02T17:08:47.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fog-instead-of-air-conditioners-how-the-chinese-city-of-yuncheng-fights-heat-with-high-altitude-sprayers
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Fog Instead of Air Conditioners: How the Chinese City of Yuncheng Fights Heat with High-Altitude Sprayers

![High-rise mist sprayers create dense fog between skyscrapers in Chinese city Yuncheng to cool the air](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/02/tuman-vmesto-konditsionerov-kak-kitayskiy-gorod-yunchen-boretsya-s-zharoy/tuman-vmesto-konditsionerov-kak-kitayskiy-gorod-yunchen-boretsya-s-zharoy-1.webp)

In the context of global warming and the increasing frequency of extreme temperature phenomena, city administrations around the world are seeking non-standard solutions for infrastructure adaptation. A striking example of a technological approach to the problem of the "urban heat island" is the experience of the city of Yuncheng in the Shanxi province (PRC). Here, municipal services have implemented an automated system of high-altitude fine mist water spraying aimed at cooling inter-architectural spaces.

The equipment is installed on the roofs of multi-story residential complexes. The main task of the system is to reduce temperature indicators in common areas using evaporative cooling technology. This allows for the creation of a comfortable microclimate in courtyard areas without the need to install bulky air conditioners in every entrance or on every street.

### The Physics of the Process: From 70 Bar to Fog

The engineering solution is based on the integration of powerful high-pressure pumping stations (from 70 bar) and a network of specialized nozzles mounted along the outer perimeter of building roofs. The operating principle of the system is fully automated: when critical temperature thresholds are reached, sensors activate the supply of pre-filtered water.

The process of transforming the microclimate occurs in several stages:

    - **Aerosol Generation:** Liquid under high pressure is sprayed into a fine mist state. The particle size ranges from 1 to 15 microns.

    - **Phase Transition:** Due to the minimal droplet size, they evaporate instantly in the airflow, not having time to touch solid surfaces. The transition of water from a liquid state to a gaseous one is accompanied by an endothermic reaction — the absorption of thermal energy from the environment.

[](/en/images/fog-instead-of-air-conditioners-how-the-chinese-city-of-yuncheng-fights-heat-with-high-altitude-sprayers-2)

According to operational reports from regional municipal services, the local reduction in atmospheric air temperature within the boundaries of courtyard areas is from 5 to 8 degrees Celsius within the first minutes of the complex's operation. An additional operational factor is the gravitational settling of suspended solid microparticles (PM2.5 and PM10), which significantly reduces the concentration of dust load and smog in the ground layer.

### Economics and Risks: Balancing Efficiency

The application of high-altitude cooling systems requires careful verification of the balance between environmental efficiency and the costs of maintaining municipal infrastructure. Analysis shows that the technology has a number of indisputable advantages, but also carries certain risks.

Key advantages include the dynamic reduction of thermal load on urbanized territories, a low level of specific energy consumption of pumping systems compared to traditional climate units, as well as a reduction in the concentration of aerotechnogenic pollutants in courtyards.

[](/en/images/fog-instead-of-air-conditioners-how-the-chinese-city-of-yuncheng-fights-heat-with-high-altitude-sprayers-3)

However, there are also infrastructure limitations. The system places high demands on the demineralization and filtration of the supplied water. Without high-quality liquid preparation, there is a risk of accelerated scaling and clogging of spray nozzles, which could disable the system. Furthermore, the efficiency of the technology is limited in regions with high natural humidity, where the evaporation process slows down.

Nevertheless, according to international standards of urbanistics and environmental design, compensating for the "urban heat island" phenomenon through hydrodynamic regulation is recognized as an effective method for reducing the load on centralized power supply systems during peak heat periods.