Millions Face Travel Disruptions as Snowstorms Hamper Lunar New Year in China

China is currently experiencing severe winter weather, including snowstorms and freezing rain, which has caused major disruptions to transportation. This comes as millions of people are traveling for the Lunar New Year holiday, leading to what is referred to as the largest annual human migration in China. Flights, train services, and highways have been significantly impacted, with hundreds of cancellations and motorists being stranded for several days. The volume of trips for the Lunar New Year is expected to be 40% higher than the previous year, as travel has increased since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions over a year ago. The central region of China, including provinces like Hebei, Hubei, and Anhui, has been particularly affected by the freezing conditions. Chinese citizens have taken to social media to express their frustration and disappointment, sharing images of their stranded situations. Some users have also commended the efforts of those who have provided assistance, such as delivering food and hot water to those stuck on the roads. The severe winter weather has caused temperatures to fall below freezing in 255 cities across the country, significantly surpassing previous years' conditions. Tragically, one person has died and several others have been injured due to a roof collapse caused by heavy snowfall. In response to the situation, the Chinese government has allocated funds for urgent snow removal and related work in affected provinces. Although the freezing weather is set to improve soon, with the most severe blizzard warning lifted, snow will continue in the south and central regions before turning warmer by the end of the week.