July temperatures set national record

China experienced its hottest month on record in July, with the highest average temperature since the country began releasing comprehensive data in 1961, the China Meteorological Administration said on Thursday.

Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the National Climate Center, said the national average temperature hit a record 23.2 C last month, 1.1 C higher than in the previous hottest July dating back to 1961.

"In July, China encountered a combination of extreme heavy rainfall and extreme high temperatures nationwide," Jia said at a news conference in Beijing.