A tourist tries to quench his thirst in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum in Beijing yesterday.

Beijing was sweltering in 39 degree Celsius heat yesterday, and the high temperature is expected to last for two days, according to the meteorological station.
Having been warned by the meteorological station, Beijing residents seemed to have made full preparation to fight the heat wave yesterday, 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. Many residents, like Li, prefer the comfort of their 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 Tian'anmen Square for eight years. "It's not that hot. The worst is when it is both hot and humid, which is unbearable," said Cheng.
Some peddlers are cashing in on the soaring mercury. "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 of ice cream and bottled water on wholesale and they sold well. I prepared even more since it would be about 38 degrees today," said a peddler surnamed Li on Wangfujing Street, one of Beijing's busiest downtown trade centers.