After a cold wave swept across China, bringing blizzards and plunging temperatures to historic lows, Beijing has broken its record for the most hours of sub-zero temperatures in December.

According to the Beijing Daily, as of Sunday, the Nanjiao weather observatory in Beijing recorded more than 300 hours of below-freezing temperatures since December 11, marking the highest for the month since records began in 1951.

Over the past week, severe cold air from the Arctic has descended into northern and northeastern parts of China, resulting in record-breaking lows of minus 40 degrees Celsius and below in some areas.

On Sunday afternoon, the temperature at Beijing's Nanjiao weather observatory rose above zero degrees Celsius for the first time in several days, as reported by the Beijing Daily.

According to the China Meteorological Administration, temperatures will fluctuate over the next ten days in several parts of central and eastern China, with some locations seeing increases of over 6 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures are predicted to rise from the weekend as warm air moves from the nation's north to south.