Snow brings China and Korea to a halt

Snow blankets Beijing

Whilst the holiday season has seen many a country grind to a halt due to high levels of snowfall, China has seen a record 12 inches (30cm) fall over the weekend, forcing the government in Beijing to mobilise thousands of people to clear roads and get the area operating again.

Beijing and the neighbouring port city of Tianjin have seen their highways disappear under the snow and even the region's international airport has been forced to close down due to the severe weather. In response, government officials have ordered residents into work groups to clear the snow and ice.

Reported to the heaviest amount of snow the capital has seen since 1951, the snow has overwhelmed the city despite it being use to severe winter conditions. In 2008, a 'freeze' caused huge power outages and transport breakdowns. However today, thousands of travellers are stranded at the airport, more than 3,500 schools in Beijing and Tianjin are closed and much transport has been made impossible due to ice-covered roads.

Strain on amenities?

Whilst the government has stated that they expect the weather to "severely affect" local traffic, there is also concern that delays caused by the snow could drive up food prices, delay further flights, and hold up some business in Beijing and other cities for several days.

There was also a worry that the cold weather would put strain of the country's gas supplies, despite recent deals with Russia.

China wasn't the only one hit hard by the cold weather. It was also reported that the Korean peninsula was also covered in snow causing flight cancellations and delays in South Korea. Gimpo airport in Seoul, a hub for South Korea's domestic flights, was forced to cancel many outgoing and inbound flights because of the snowfall as was Incheon airport, the main international airport west of Seoul.

Snowstorms are expected in north-east China and eastern Shandong province over the next few days with temperatures dropping to -32C (-26F).

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