This is the lowest temperature recorded this winter and is being fuelled by a cold front swinging down from Mongolia.

Zhang Mingying, a meteorologist with a Beijing-based observatory, said the front had left the capital and was heading southwards.

The expert added that the record lowest temperature to leave the nation shivering was minus 16ºC in 1967.

The sudden drop in temperature has left its mark on society.

Patients with cold-affected symptoms have flooded emergency rooms of all the major hospitals in Beijing.

"The number of patients with cold and fever has increased by about 10 to 20 percent compared with normal days," said Zhang Guoqiang, vice-director of the Emergency Room in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Chaoyang District.

"Most of them are children, the senior people and some with fragile physical conditions," he added.

He advised people against going out in public during cold weather and visiting the doctor when symptoms such as headaches or sore throats first arise.

Sales of quilted jackets and electrical heaters were brisk in major markets.

But parks were empty as the freezing temperatures dissuaded people from exercising outdoors.

Zhang said it was unlikely to snow over the coming days as the air currents were unsuitable.

The average temperature of the past two days is minus 2.4 and 0 degrees respectively - while today's average is estimated to be 1 or 2 degrees.

Zhang added that the end of the heavy fog which has plagued the Beijing area over the past week is a filip for local people as they are less likely to suffer respiratory diseases.

(China Daily December 10, 2002)