Wild weather in northern China

Updated January 4, 2010 11:16:59

Heavy snowfall in Beijing is causing major disruption, as northern China prepares for some of the lowest temperatures in decades. Freezing temperatures have forced flight cancellations and highway closures.

Presenter: Kate Arnott

ARNOTT: Snow has brought the chinese capital to a near standstill. The unrelenting weather have forced authorities to close major highways in and around Beijing. More than 900 flights were either cancelled or delayed at beijing airport on Sunday.

VOX POP: (Mandarin)

ARNOTT: I came very early to catch my plane, this man says, because I knew it was going to snow, I hoped to get through the check-in process and see what time the plane would leave but the airport says my plane will not leave.

With temperatures averaging minus 9 degrees celsius, usually busy streets are quiet... with residents preferring to stay indoors. But not everyone's complaining.

VOX POP: (Mandarin)

ARNOTT: This man says when it snows the air seems very fresh, you can go out with friends and take photos in the snow.

ARNOTT: The national meteorological centre says as much as 12 centimetres of snow has fallen in other parts of the country, leaving authorities with a massive clean up job. And there will be no let up with some of the lowest temperatures in decades forecast for this week. In parts of northern China temperatures are expected to drop as low as minus 32 degrees Celsius.

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