Senior citizens in Nanyang brave the bitter cold to do morning exercises. [Photo by Wang Weigang/Nanyang Evening News]

The city of Nanyang in Henan province raised a blue alert at 5:10 pm on Jan 21 for people to prepare for an upcoming cold snap which should bring temperatures down to -10C over the weekend.

Farmers are advised to take measures to protect crops and aquatic products from chilly winds while government staff are required to be ready for on-duty calls. Residents are advised to wear scarfs and hats to keep warm in outdoor activities.

Due to the low humidity, the cold snap may not bring the kind of heavy snowfall experienced by the provincial capital Zhengzhou.