Tourists use umbrellas to block the fierce sun at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on July 6, 2010. A heat wave has been scorching the Chinese capital for five straight days, with temperatures climbing up to 41.8 C at 1:30 PM on Tuesday. [Xinhua] 

One weatherglass shows a temperature exceeding 45 C, while the other is out of gear near the National Grand Theater in Beijing at 4:37 PM on July 6, 2010. [Xinhua] 

Kids play in a pool at a park in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province on July 6, 2010. The provincial weather bureau issued a red-color (highest level) weather alert for the first time in the past five days, warning that highs in six cities including Shijiazhuang will exceed 40 C. [Xinhua] 

A man, wet with sweat, takes a nap on a bus in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province on July 6, 2010. The provincial weather bureau upgraded its weather alert from yellow (third level) to orange (second level) at 9:10 AM, predicting that most parts of the province will suffer a high temperature of higher than 37 C. [Xinhua]