Cold winds portend end of warm autumn

A wave of cold air barreling across northern China will push down temperatures until Wednesday, bringing chilly winds to large parts of the country, the China Meteorological Administration said on Monday.

The frigid air was expected to reach Beijing on Monday evening, leading to a sharp drop in temperature to as low as 4 C on Tuesday, the coldest day this autumn.

The provincial capitals of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Shandong provinces are also projected to experience their coldest autumn days, after previous cold snaps had already sent the mercury down to levels lower than past years.