Snow in north China disrupts traffic, flights

Snow across north China on Tuesday caused road closures and delayed flights.

Light to moderate snow fell in Beijing, alleviating the winter drought. This winter, Beijing has only seen 0.9 millimeters of rain, nearly 90 percent less than average, according to the Beijing Meteorological Center.

Qiao Lin, head of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei meteorological center, said snow was forecast across a vast area of north China from Monday to Wednesday and parts of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Hebei were hit by heavy snow.

"Icy roads and low visibility could affect traffic in urban cities in the rush hours Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning," said Qiao.

In Zhangjiakou, Hebei, the snow was up to 9cm deep.

Many highways in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Hebei were closed, as was an airport in Taiyuan, the provincial capital of Shanxi.

"It is safer to take public transportation than to drive," said a woman surnamed Zhang in Taiyuan. "But the bus is more crowded today."

Snow also fell in Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Gansu.

"The snow is good for winter wheat, but could affect crops in greenhouses," said Mao Fengwu, an agricultural technician in Henan. Endi