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Shanghai struggles to stay cool amid heatwave

STORY: Monday is the second consecutive day in which temperatures have passed 30 degrees Celsius in Shanghai, the meteorological bureau said.

"It feels like it's getting hotter faster than previous years," said 35-year-old Shanghai resident, Ma Juan. "In previous years, it was okay, overall it wasn't so hot and stuffy. But this year, once I stepped out, it feels like summer and I immediately started sweating," she added.

Major Chinese cities have issued heat advisories as the country braces for record-breaking heat that could threaten electricity supply, crops and a fragile economy. The heatwaves are occurring ahead of the regular summer season, which is particularly worrying for agriculture. Crop damage could drive up food prices, exacerbate inflation and put pressure on China's economy as it tries to rebound from a three-year zero-COVID policy that stunted growth.