Soaring summer temperatures and the red hot atmosphere of the Six-Party Talks mean diplomats and the more than 500 journalists gathered in Beijing are eager to find ways to keep cool.

　　Chinese green bean soup has quickly become a favourite of delegates trying to beat the heat at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where the talks are being held, as well as among members of the international media based at the nearby Diaoyutai Hotel.

　　Hotel General Manager Yue Yanyou said the soup helps prevent overheating. "The soup has become very popular here," he remarked.

　　In addition to the soup, reporters from home and abroad are also enjoying Diaoyutai's first-class service.

　　Hotel lounges are open to reporters in the press centre, where hungry hacks can enjoy half-price buffets.

　　In a bid to soothe reporters' often-strained nerves, notices are being printed in a host of attractive colours.

　　The press centre in the hotel is open to journalists from 8:30 am until 9:00 pm each day. Covering a floor space of more than 100 square metres, the centre is equipped with seven desktop computers offering free Internet access. There is also a 48-inch TV with a video feed from the talks.

　　More than 200 foreign journalists are covering the talks, including 93 from Japan, 81 from the Republic of Korea, 14 from the United States and nine from Russia.