A latest scientific research shows the urban "heat island" effect is bringing Beijingers more scorching summer days, as the "heat island" now covers about 20 percent of the downtown area of China's capital.
Researchers said that studies using remote sensing technology discovered that the urban "heat island" effect is a major factor behind the air temperature rise in Beijing.
Beijing's downtown area under the unified design by the municipal government has its land area used for construction purposes almost double the level 15 years ago, whereas the area of natural plants, including farm land, reduced more than a half.
The term "heat island" comes from the fact that in an air temperature distribution graph, the high temperature part has a shape of an "island".
To allay the urban "heat island" effect, it is imperative to increase the areas of water surface and green patches.

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A recently released report predicts that there will be over 30 million digital TV users in China in 2008.
The report says the number jumped from 67,000 in 2002 to 168,000 last year, and should hit over 1 million by the end of this year.
China will produce about six and a half million digital televisions this year and have gross sales of some 32 billion yuan, or 3.9 billion US dollars. The predicted numbers for 2008 are 20 million sets and 77 billion yuan.
China is developing digital video broadcast standards that are compatible with the European DVB-C standard, and now has two patented standards developed by Chinese institutions.