China's Xinjiang region has been under the grip of a severe cold wave, with temperatures breaking a 64-year-old record.
On February 18, the far western region recorded a bone-chilling minus 52.3 degrees Celsius. According to state media, the temperature in the Tuerhong township was the lowest since records began in Xinjiang, surpassing a temperature of minus 51.5 degrees Celsius set on Jan 21, 1960.
China's forecasters have raised the warning for freezing weather conditions to its second-highest level, with drastic falls expected across the nation through Thursday.