SHANGHAI residents headed for city pools yesterday as temperatures hit 35 degrees Celsius and the city sizzled under blue skies.

And with the mercury set to stay around 35 degrees for most of this week, local swimming pools and water parks look set to be among the coolest — and most packed — spots in town.

Yesterday was the second high temperature day — when the mercury exceeds 35 degrees — this summer, with the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau issuing a yellow high temperature alert at noon. A high of 36.1 degrees was recorded downtown.