A full solar eclipse is expected to occur on Wednesday. And the General Office of the State Council has urged relevant departments to make preparations to tackle any possible inconveniences or adverse effects caused by the eclipse.

The upcoming total solar eclipse will be the longest one visible in China during the period from 1814 to 2309. And over ten million people are expected to observe it.

The departments of transport, railways and civil aviation have been asked to make full preparations to guarantee smooth and safe transportation for passengers.

Prof. Wang Yuming, University of Science & Technology of China, said, "When the eclipse happens, the light will diminish very quickly. We remind drivers to be careful, especially those travelling on highways. They are advised to stop driving during the eclipse. The day may turn to as dark as night... in just several seconds."

Cities along the Yangtze River are said to be the best places in China to view the eclipse. The longest period of darkness in this region could last about six minutes.

Shanghai, Nanjing and Jiangxi have made plans to turn on all the road lamps before the eclipse in a bid to ensure traffic safety.

As the sudden darkness may also make some animals nervous, citizens have been reminded to pay attention to their pets. And zoos have strengthened their supervision of their larger animals to avoid any mishaps.

Weather authorities are set to intensify weather monitoring and issue timely weather reports, especially concerning any possible weather disasters.

(CCTV July 20, 2009)