Icy weather in China disrupts travel rush ahead of Chinese New Year

Icy weather in China disrupts travel rush ahead of Chinese New Year

BEIJING: As billions of people in central and eastern China go ahead of the Spring Festival in the chilly wind that has swept through the nation over the past year, freezing weather, frost, and snow have made it difficult for many to return home.

The hardest hit region is the northern province of Hubei, where routes have slowed to a crawl and trains have been delayed or cancelled, leaving passengers stranded.

According to business outlet Yicai on Monday ( Feb 5 ), one driver was imprisoned for three days. According to local media, lots of carriages have been delayed or suspended, and a large number of people have become stranded at Wuhan train stations. Early on Tuesday, state media CCTV reported that the Wuhan Tianhe Airport’s planes had been temporarily closed.