Snow, Coldwave grip Northern Regions, Shutting Expressways

Heavy snow and record low temperatures have hit China’s northern and northwestern regions since Friday afternoon, upsetting transportation and people’s daily life.

In Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, snow that began to fall on Friday has blanketed most of the region. The snow in regional capital Yinchuan stopped on Saturday, leaving a thick layer of snow and slippery ice crust on the surface of expressways.

Local transport authorities had to impose emergency traffic control across the region’s 17 motorways, and rapidly dispatch snow clearing equipment to remove the ice and snow on highways. Long-distance bus services have remained suspended in Ningxia so far.