China experiences record high temperatures

Temperatures in north China's Tianjin hit around 40 Celsius degrees on Thursday May 29, 2014. (Xinhua)

China's weather authorities say temperatures in northern and central China continue to exceed 35 Celsius degrees.

Temperatures are expected to reach up to 39 Celsius degrees in many areas, including in the city of Beijng, north Hebei province, northeast Henan province, most of Shandong province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Authorities say the heat wave is expected to ease from Saturday.

The scorching weather caused the death of two people in the southwestern province of Yunnan on Thursday. Temperatures there soared to a record high of 44.5 Celsius degrees.

Meanwhile, temperatures in Beijing on Thursday hit a record high of around 40 Celsius degrees, the highest since 1951.