A cold snap that began last week and is coinciding with the Lunar New Year holidays has caused temperatures in parts of China, including the capital Beijing, to plunge to record lows, with business and financial hubs Shanghai and Guangzhou shivering through their chilliest days so far this winter.
On Wednesday morning a weather station in Beijing's Mentougou district recorded its lowest-ever temperature, minus 22.4 C, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.
