A polar bear swims in a pool in the Beijing Zoo while eating "ice jelly". Beijing was struck in high temperature up to 39 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. 

Beijing was struck in high temperature up to 39 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, and the high temperature is expected to last for two days, according to the meteorological station.

With warning from meteorological station, the residents have made full preparation to fight the heat waves on Tuesday, which coincides with the Summer Solstice, the solar term indicating the longest daytime.

"I do not feel bothered by the heat. With information from the meteorological station, I decided to come to office earlier and return home later," said Li Shanshan, an office lady in Beijing. Many residents, like Li, would protect themselves in the air-conditioned offices.

While most people hide in air-conditioned buildings, many have to work outdoors. Cheng Xiulan, a 47-year-old sanitation maintenance worker, has been working to clean rubbish at the Tian'anmen Square for eight years. "It's not that hot. The worst is when it was both hot and humid, as is unbearable," said Cheng.

Some peddlers are cashing on the temperature. "I follow the weather forecast closely. In the past two days, the forecast said it would be about 30 degrees Celsius, and I bought a lot ice creamand bottled water in wholesale and they sold well. I prepared evenmore since it would be about 38 degrees Celsius today," said a peddler surnamed Li at Wangfujing Street, one of Beijing's busiest downtown trade centers.

Beijingers consumed 2.29 million cubic meters of water on Monday and the figure is expected to top 2.37 million cubic meterson Tuesday, much higher than the record 2.27 million cubic meters per day last year, according to Beijing Water Department.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2005)