Record high 40.3 C scorches Beijing

Pedestrians use an umbrella to shield themselves from the blistering sunshine in Beijing, July 5, 2010. Sizzling heat hit North China, forcing high temperatures in most areas to exceed 35 C. At 4 pm Monday, the temperature in Beijing reached 40.3 C, the highest in early July since 1951. The city's meteorological department upgraded its weather alert from yellow (third level) to orange (second level) at 10:30 am. It is estimated that highs in most parts of Beijing will still be more than 39 C on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]