In the next four or five days, temperatures should increase about 6 to 10 degrees centigrade in the area, according to the Central Meteorological Observatory.

But freezing weather may return at the start of Spring Festival holidays on January 24, said an expert, surnamed Chen, at the observatory.

People in most northern areas of the country have experienced a frigid week following a big snowfall which hit over a week ago. Snow still covers farmland and many urban areas.

In Beijing, the snow is far from thawing with a low of -14 degrees centigrade and a high of -6 degrees centigrade recorded on Sunday.

In the cold winds, cars, bikes and pedestrians have had to take extra precautions on the snow- and ice-covered streets.

The sudden drop in temperatures has brought an increase in patients suffering respiratory track infections, heart disease and kidney ailments.

Children and senior citizens have become the hardest hit, medical experts said.

Patients at the emergency treatment department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital have more than doubled since the snow.

On Sunday, the hospital received about 350 patients, which is, on average, about 200 more than before the cold snap.

“Senior citizens should pay more attention to keeping themselves warm and reduce out-of-door activities,” said department doctor Zeng Qing.

The temperature of central water heating systems in Beijing buildings have been raised.

Retailers in cities where there are few central heating systems have experienced strong sales in electric radiators, official news said.

The Taiping International Airport in Harbin, where temperatures have plunged to -37 degrees centigrade, has had planes from warm areas grounded because of frozen fluid drive systems.

Two to three planes had to postpone their departure time, said Su Qi, an airport engineer. Su and his team have had to check and repair about 20 planes from southern cities every day.

The snow and the cold weather, however, have brought some benefits, according to Cui Yongyi, an expert from Beijing Meteorological Observatory.

“They have helped farmers kill pests and provided rich water to fields in north China where it has not rained for a long time,” Cui said.

People in Beijing have also enjoyed deep blue skies and clean air since the snowfall. The cold air snap arrived in south China over the weekend

(China Daily 01/15/2001)