Severe Weather Disrupts Lunar New Year Travel in China, Leaving Millions Stranded

As the lunar new year in China approaches, millions of people are struggling to return home due to the severe weather conditions that have disrupted transportation and left many stranded. The usually bustling roads are eerily quiet, with thick layers of ice rendering transportation impassable. Videos on social media show people hacking away at the frozen roads, desperately trying to break through the ice to get to their destinations.

The harsh weather has brought life to a standstill, with hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of workers deployed to clear the roads and restore train services. Over 20 sections of major roads have been closed, and temperatures in central and eastern China have plummeted below freezing. The situation is particularly dire in provinces such as Anhui, Hubei, and Hunan, which have been hit by the brunt of winter’s fury.

The Chinese spring festival is a significant event, with millions of urban workers returning to their hometowns to celebrate with friends and family. For many, it is the only trip they take all year, and the cancellation of flights and train services has left them feeling stranded and disappointed. One woman, stuck on a highway in Hunan for three days, posted on social media about the struggles of traveling during the weather. She described how villagers were selling hot rice for 40 yuan a bowl, sparking an online debate about whether the price was fair, considering the effort involved in making and transporting the rice in such conditions.

The weather has been described as the worst since 2008, when blizzards claimed the lives of over 20 people. This year, at least two people have died, one in Hubei and one in Hunan, after snowfall caused ceilings and market rooftops to collapse. In response to the crisis, the ministries of finance and transport have pledged to issue 141 million yuan (£15.8 million) to support local authorities in clearing the highways.

As the situation continues to unfold, residents are bracing themselves for another day of wintry weather, with snow expected to fall on Wednesday and conditions slowly easing on Thursday. For millions of people, the prospect of a long and arduous journey home is a daunting one, and the country’s transportation infrastructure is under intense pressure to get people where they need to be. As the nation struggles to cope with the aftermath of winter’s fury, one thing is clear: the resilience and determination of the Chinese people will be tested like never before.