Heavy rains are set to break the heatwave lingering across much of China Thursday, according to a forecast from China's National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Rains will hit areas near the Yangtze River and the Yellow River as well as northeast China, affecting Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, northern Fujian, northern Jiangxi, northern Hunan, Hubei, northern Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Jilin and southeast Tibet.

The NMC issued a yellow-level heat alert for Thursday, warning that heatwave would continue affecting the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 38 degrees Celsius.

China has a four-color heat warning system: red, orange, yellow and blue. Red is the most serious level.

Under a yellow alert, people are advised to reduce outdoor activities in the afternoon and employers are asked to take measures to protect staff working outdoors from heatstroke.