Beijing records most hours of sub-zero temperatures in December since 1951

A worker clears snow at a park during winter solstice in Beijing, China December 22, 2023. - Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters): China's capital Beijing has broken its record for hours of sub-zero temperatures in December dating back to 1951, after a cold wave swept swathes of the country and brought blizzards in its wake, sending temperatures towards historic lows.

Northern and northeastern parts of the country have experienced a record-breaking chill since last week, with some areas in the northeast hitting minus 40 Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit) and below as biting cold air flowed down from the Arctic.