The strongest cold wave this autumn is sweeping central parts of China. It's then expected to head southeast, following heavy rains and snow. Temperatures in northeast China and the eastern Shangdong Province are expected to fall by up to 16 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, east and south China, and parts of the northwest and southwest, will see temperature drops of between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius. In Baicheng, China's northwestern county in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, 30 centimeters of snow has fallen, blocking several roads.

At Jinan International airport in Shangdong Province, all flights have been cancelled due to heavy snow, leaving thousands of tourists stranded. And Shijiazhuang city in Hebei province is experiencing extreme fog. China's National Meteorological center has issued a second cold wave alert, warning people to take precautions against the bad weather. The Ministry of Agriculture is also urging related authorities to take emergency measures, to safeguard food production this autumn.