Dense fog enveloped some parts of China on Friday, disrupting local flights and highway traffic amid China's peak passenger flow season for the approaching traditional Lunar New Year.

 

Flights at the Tianhe Airport in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, were suspended for hours as the fog reduced visibility to less than 100 meters early Friday morning.

 

All the freeways linking Wuhan to adjacent areas were temporarily closed, according to local traffic administration officials.

 

The fog was expected to disperse after noon but weather forecasters expected it to return on Saturday. Traffic departments and residents have been advised to pay attention to traffic security.

 

A section of the expressway connecting Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, to neighboring Chongqing Municipality, was closed as the visibility in the fog was only some 50 meters.

 

Fog also caused the closure of a section of a highway in Jiangxi Province, east China, for about three hours.

 

Various vehicles gradually piled up, creating a 100 km tailback on the road, which links the provincial capital of Nanchang to the city of Jiujiang.

 

The freeway resumed operation before noon as the fog dispersed.

 

China is undergoing its annual peak passenger flow period as the Spring Festival, a traditionally cherished time for family reunions, is coming up on January 29.

 

Railways, freeways and flights are the main means of transport for most Chinese to return home or travel around.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2006)