Cold comfort as I prepare to beat the upcoming winter chill

I'm sure most Beijingers would agree with me that they envy residents of North China's Tianjin, whose central home heating systems have been turned on two weeks ahead of schedule as the mercury levels start dipping sharply.

The heating systems were turned on Nov 1.

Tianjin residents will also have extended warmer days, which means the heaters will run until March 31 next year, unlike in Beijing, where they are on until March 15.