On Saturday, large areas of eastern China experienced intense heat waves, with some regions recording all-time high temperatures, according to weather officials. China is currently facing a summer of severe weather conditions, with unusual heat affecting parts of the north and east, while heavy rains have caused floods and landslides in central and southern areas. As the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, which scientists link to global warming and more frequent extreme weather events, China is feeling the effects. The temperature in Hangzhou, an eastern city, reached 41.9 degrees Celsius around 2:30 PM on Saturday, as reported by the weather office's online news portal. This broke the city's previous record of 41.8°C set in August 2022. Hangzhou, the capital of prosperous Zhejiang province and a major technology hub, has a population of 12.5 million. Social media was abuzz with comments about the oppressive heat, with one user saying, "I feel like I'm melting." Another on Weibo joked, "Who still thinks Hangzhou is a great place to live?" All of the ten hottest cities in China early Saturday afternoon were in Zhejiang, with Zhuji reaching a daily high of 42.3°C, according to the weather service. High temperatures are expected to continue in the region for the next week, with Hangzhou likely to set new heat records. Weather warnings for extreme heat were in effect in many eastern cities on Saturday, advising the public to limit outdoor activities and take precautions against heatstroke. In Shanghai, a metropolis of about 25 million people, temperatures approached 40°C in the early afternoon, close to its record of 40.9°C. China has committed to reaching a peak in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2060, but has not agreed to more aggressive cuts. Historically reliant on coal power for its economic growth, China has recently become a leader in renewable energy. The country's top economic planner announced on Friday that it would adjust its climate targets post-peak emissions, focusing on volume reductions rather than relative to economic growth.