As a heavy snow hit the Chinese capital early Monday morning, the Beijing Municipality took emergency measures to ensure traffic safety, according to sources with the municipal government.

More than 1,500 people were mobilized to clean the streets and roads, 200 vehicles and 550 tons of snow thawing materials were put into use, and skidproof mats were paved at the entrances of all metro stations in Beijing.

Transport and tourism departments were also asked to extend their working hours.

The first snow in the year of the dog on the lunar calendar delayed more than 200 flights and more than 40 flights were cancelled at the Beijing capital international airport.

The snow also disrupted road traffic, with several expressways temporarily closed. The heavy snow affected a vast area north of the Yangtze River and caused difficulties to the post-festival road transport.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2006)