Heavy snow delays close to 100 flights at Shanghai

Nearly 100 international and domestic flights to and from China's most populous city of Shanghai were delayed on Thursday due to heavy snow, the operator of the city's two airports said.

As of 9.30am (0130 GMT) 24 flights at Pudong International Airport had been delayed as had 70 flights at Hongqiao Airport, which handles mainly domestic flights.

Airports in the nearby cities of Hangzhou and Nanjing were closed temporarily following the snowfall, state news agency Xinhua quoted flag carrier Air China as saying.

All three runways at Pudong airport, the country's second busiest airport, and the two runways at Hongqiao airport remained open, the operator said in a statement posted on its website www.shanghaiairport.com.

The government had earlier issued a heavy snow warning for Shanghai and surrounding regions.

Officials have said rain, snow and ice could disrupt travel plans for millions who aim to get on the road during the Lunar New Year holiday early next month.

A record 230 million people will travel by rail to their home towns this year, an increase of 12.5% over last year, according to local media reports.

The Spring Festival does not officially start until February 3, but many migrant workers and others head home early to beat the rush.

In early 2008, freezing weather across southern China caused power cuts and transport chaos, preventing many residents from spending the holiday with their families.