A chef bakes an ice cream with a blowtorch, scorching its outside to a caramel color. Caixin has compiled photos of various types of ice creams as the Minor Heat solar term begins Thursday. Photo: VCG

An ice cream set a Guinness World Record as being the most expensive dessert in 2007 in New York, consisting of a blend of chocolate, whipped cream and truffles, and decorated with edible gold flakes. Photo: VCG

A mask-shaped ice cream drawing on the image of the famous Sanxingdui Ruins is on sale in Hangzhou Museum, East China’s Zhejiang province, in September 2021. Photo: VCG

A minion ice cream on a stick is seen at Universal Beijing Resort in September 2021. Photo: VCG

An ice cream made of crocodile eggs, milk and sugar is presented at a restaurant in Davao, Philippines. Photo: VCG

An ice cream in the shape of a dog in Huaibei, East China’s Anhui province, in August 2021. Photo: VCG

An ice cream in the shape of a lobster claw is on offer on Beijing’s Gui Street, or “Ghost Street” a restaurant street that specializes in crayfish and other seafood in Beijing, in August 2021. Photo: VCG

Potted plant-lookalike ice creams are sold on the streets of Shenyang, Northeast China’s Liaoning province. Photo: IC Photo

A squirrel licks an ice cream in St James’ Park in London, England. Photo: VCG

A pedestrian photographs a giant replica ice cream lolly installation found in Beijing’s Chaoyang district on Tuesday. Photo: Yi Haifei/China News Service, VCG