Scorching sun replaced pouring rain at the weekend, as a heat wave hit southern parts of the country.

Guangdong, Hunan and Fujian provinces, and the Guangxi autonomous region all reported highs of 35 C and above at the weekend, much higher than the June average of 26-33 C.

In Guangxi, the capital Nanning saw the mercury rise to 35 C on Sunday, the hottest day of the year. In Changsha, capital of Hunan province, the temperature on Sunday soared to 38 C. In Guangdong, 51 cities and counties experienced a heat wave, with 36 of them, including Guangzhou, above 35 C.

Lin Liangxun, chief forecaster with the Guangdong weather bureau, said Typhoon Fengshen was partly responsible for the heat wave. Five to seven tropical cyclones are expected to hit Guangdong this summer, which in turn will bring more hot weather and typhoons, he said. Temperatures throughout the province will remain high and could rise over the coming days, with 37 C possible in some cities in the north and south of Guangdong.

Liu advised residents to seek shade in the middle of the day and to wear sun cream if they venture outside. However for Chen Guangqing, a Guangzhou man whose home does not have air conditioning, relief is hard to come by, "It is so hot, I can't get to sleep at night." He said.

Schoolchildren have also complained about having to do physical exercise classes in the heat. Luo Rongdan, a high school girl, said: "I get very dizzy when we are doing sports because it is so hot."

Fortunately for residents in southern China rain is scheduled to fall over the next few days.