China sweltered and sweated at the weekend after a heatwave sent temperatures soaring above their usual levels for this time of year.

And citizens will not be packing away the suncream just yet as the hot weather is expected to continue today.

The Central Meteorological Station reported temperatures to be two or three degrees higher than usual for mid-July.

In Beijing, thermometers hit 40.1 degrees Celsius yesterday afternoon. The longer hours of daylight recently have contributed to the accumulation of heat. The local meteorology bureau yesterday recorded an exceptionally high ground temperature of 60 degrees centigrade.

The hot weather claimed the life of a farmer in his fifties in the suburbs of ancient capital Xi'an, which has been hit by high temperatures over several days. The man died from heat stroke while working in his corn field on Tuesday with his body being found the following day.

"Tomorrow (Monday) will see a slight decrease in temperature, but it will be hardly noticeable to ordinary people," said a meteorologist from Beijing Meteorological Station.

The hot weather is the result of warm currents accompanied by a northerly breeze.

"The force-3 breeze has sent temperatures soaring," the meteorologist said.

An official with the Weather Prediction Department of the station urged people to stay indoors as much as possible.

"We recorded Beijing's highest temperature as 40.1 degrees Celsius yesterday afternoon, and it's not suitable for outdoor activities," she said.

She predicted temperatures would dip from Wednesday.

There were not a lot of people on the streets of Beijing yesterday, while swimming pools and air-conditioned places were crowded. Swimming pools were so crowded with bathers that people could only walk in the pool.

Beijing's air-conditioned buses also received good business yesterday, and were crowded with passengers. But sources with major hospitals in Beijing said cases of sunstroke had been few.

Doctors urged people to drink more water and avoid outdoor work.

Beauty specialists' advice about the harm ultraviolet radiation can cause to human skin has fuelled young women's dread of over-exposure to the sun and sunburn.

Consequently, sales of sun block have proved as hot as the summer weather outside.

"Sun blocks are absolutely necessary in summer," said Xiao Min, a 25-year-old female white-collar worker. "I would not think of going out into the sun without putting on sun block first."

Sun hats, minifans, cards to measure ultraviolet radiation exposure, sunglasses and umbrellas are also becoming must-have items for fashion conscious young Chinese women.

( China Daily July 15, 2002 )