SHANGHAI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Parts of China will continue to experience a cold front as spring begins according to the Chinese calendar on Sunday.

Temperature drops hit most of southern China due to strong north winds sweeping across the region, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Shanghai saw temperatures drop below zero degrees Celsius on Saturday, with the city issuing an alert for frost. "It's freezing cold outside," said Wang Jiawei, a Shanghai citizen. "Although spring starts on Sunday, I do not feel spring coming."

According to the NMC, some areas in central and eastern China will see temperatures two to five degrees Celsius lower compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, southwest China's Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces will have snow or sleet until Monday, with heavy snowfall expected in some places.

Forty-nine counties in Guizhou Province had seen snowfall as of Saturday while temperatures in 62 counties fell below zero degrees Celsius, the provincial meteorological station said.

Sunday marks the start of spring on the traditional Chinese calendar. People eat spring rolls or spring pancakes to celebrate the beginning of the new season.