Friday marks the winter solstice in the Chinese lunar calender. This year it also happens to be the coldest day of the year so far. China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and most northern parts of China have been hit by heavy rain and snow.

Residents ride bicycles in snow in Hohhot city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Dec 20. On the day, the city saw temperature drop by over 12 degrees Celsius.

A strong cold front has sent temperatures plummeting across China, with some regions experiencing a record low. China's National Meteorological Center says northern and eastern parts of China are set to see temperature drops of between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius over the next three days.

Temperatures are plunging in most part of China. A strong cold front from Siberia brought a slump in temperature and fresh snowfall to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Most of the region saw temperature drops by 10 degrees Celsius, while the temperature fell to 40 minus degrees Celsius in the worst hit region.

Inner Mongolia is also catching some of the harsher weather. The region is predicted to experience strong wind and a sharp fall in temperature after snowfall. Temperatures will drop by 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in central and eastern parts.

In Shaanxi Province, heavy snow forced major highways to close. Local authorities issued an alert on freezing road conditions.

It is also the same picture in neighbouring Shanxi province where roads have been blocked by stranded vehicles stretching over 10 kilometers.

The cold weather is moving east across the country.

Authorities in east China's Shandong province have issued snow and cold snap alerts. The Bohai Sea Straits and northern Yellow Sea will also experience strong gales.

Beijing is expected to embrace its coldest December in 30 years with temperatures predicted to drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius at the weekend.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)