China has been sweltering through record breaking heat over the past few days. Temperatures have reached up to 40 degrees in some parts prompting China's Meteorological Bureau to issue a yellow alert. Residents in affected areas have been told to stay indoors where possible and for employers to take precautionary measures to protect their staff from heatstroke. Matt East has the story.

On Saturday, Beijing sweated through its hottest day this summer with a temperature of 38 degrees celsius.

Beijingers, where possible, retreated to the air conditioned comfort of homes, shopping malls and swimming pools.

Those who had no choice but to be outside working or getting to work were armed with hats, umbrellas and lots of drinking water to battle the heat.

It's also important to be sun smart during this scorching hot weather to protect your skin.

Businesses selling suncream have been very busy.

Swimming pools and shopping malls proved popular. A way to get out of the hot weather.

At the Shanghai World Expo, the heat wave hasn't turned visitors away.

There is still big line-ups outside pavilions, with many carrying fans and wearing sunshields to try and stay cool.

SH Expo Visitor, said, "I have been here for about two hours. I feel hot but it's OK."

At Changhai hospital, doctors and nurses are being kept busy treating patients with heat related illnesses.

Qin Jing, Nurse of Changhai Hospital, said,"There are many people coming in for treatment, especially in the afternoon. We're seeing about 300 patients a day."

It's not just Beijing sweating through this scorching summer. Other cities are also being affected. And it's threatening some electricity supplies.

Local governments are making every effort to ensure reliable supplies.

The weather bureau says the heat wave is going to stick around for the next three days, with many Chinese regions climbing to 38 degrees Celsius, a record high for this summer.