The length accounts for almost one-third of the 628-kilometre section of the river flowing in Shandong. To date, ice is running along the whole river courses in Shandong, and the average ice density is reaching 60 per cent.

Sources with the anti-flood office say the iced-over section will soon extend to Henan Province, the neighbouring province that the Yellow River passes before flowing into Shandong.

"Everything is under control now, but the continuous low temperatures in the coming week will mean that more areas are icebound," said Zhang Yuchu, an official from office.

He added that a slowing of water flow had sped up the freezing of the river, "but everything is safe as far as we know."

The Yellow River is China's second-largest river.

The river water is especially precious for Shandong, both an economically strong province short of water resources and the last province that the Yellow River crosses. No navigation has been allowed along the river in Shandong over the past 10 years.

This year Shandong has experienced the worst drought in the past 100 years. However, the river continued to flow, thanks to effective measures taken by the local government.

(China Daily December 31, 2002)