As the scorching heat continues to bake many regions of China amid the “Sanfu”, also known as the “dog days of summer”, the hottest time of the year according to China’s lunar calendar, people across the country have come up with miscellaneous innovations to escape the stifling hot air. But have you ever wondered how animals at zoos beat the heat during the sweltering summer time? Take a look at the following pictures of how animals seek out a pinch of coolness, if not for their cuteness, but at least for a relief from the suffocating summer sun. /news.qq Photo

A panda at Huangshan Mountain in east China's Anhui Province enjoys its ice treats. /news.qq Photo

Two alpacas with their hair recently trimmed take a dip in some cool water at Shijiazhuang Zoo, in north China's Hebei Province. /news.qq Photo

A red panda at Wuhan Zoo in central China's Hubei Province sprawls out on an ice cube as the city's temperature exceeded 39 degrees centigrade. /news.qq Photo

Two monkeys sprinkle each other with water at a zoo in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. /news.qq Photo

A boa snake at a zoo in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, soaks itself in water to escape the summer heat. /news.qq Photo

A monkey in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, grabs a piece of watermelon from its breeder. The city's temperature hit 39 degrees centigrade. /news.qq Photo