A cold wave will sweep across north China, bringing strong winds and rain in the next three days, the country's meteorological authorities forecasted Thursday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said temperatures would drop 4 to 8 degrees Celsius in northern China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, most parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, areas of north and northeast China over the coming three days.

Temperature could fall by 10 degrees Celsius in east Inner Mongolia and northeast China over the next three days, according to the forecast.

Meanwhile, heavy rain will soak Beijing, northern Hebei and Liaoning provinces, and bring snow or sleet to eastern areas of Inner Mongolia, the forecast said.

Over the coming three days, areas in south China, including Sichuan, Guangdong and Hainan provinces, as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, will continue to see more rainfall, which has lingered for nearly 10 days there, according to the NMC forecast.

China's week-long National Day holiday begins Friday.