Heavy snow creates a picturesque scene in Wuyuan county, Jiangxi province. (Photos/China Daily)
Teams brave challenging conditions to keep key services running as temperatures plummet
Teams of outdoor workers are braving falling temperatures, howling winds and snowstorms affecting many areas of China to keep vital services running.
But these hardy employees have to be careful about the challenging conditions in which they are working.
According to a report by the National Meteorological Center, on cold and windy days when temperatures fall below -30 C, there is the risk of frostbite if they stay outdoors for more than 10 minutes.
Niu Shulei, a soldier, has patrolled the country's northern border with Russia for three years, but has never experienced such biting winds as in recent days when the temperature dropped to a record low.
In Mohe, China's northernmost city in Heilongjiang province, the cold front has lowered the temperature to -43 C, making Niu's daily patrol along part of the Heilongjiang River, which forms the border, "like walking against knives because of the howling wind".
"We have to walk quickly to keep our bodies warm," he said, adding that ice rapidly forms on the soldiers' coats outdoors.
But Niu and his colleagues maintain daily patrols despite the cold.
Yao Likuo, assistant manager at a wind power company in Heilongjiang, said the firm's engineers who work on repairs have been busy keeping the wind turbine working normally in extremely low temperatures.
In Beijing, Zhao Ruge, a policeman in charge of safety inspections of vehicles heading into the capital, said now is a busy time for the inspections as Spring Festival approaches. He has found vehicles transporting fireworks illegally.
"I daren't rub my ears to make them warm after working outdoors as I fear I might damage them," said Zhao, who is in his 50s.
Some workers are braving the icy conditions to protect their livelihoods.
Fishermen in Dalian, Liaoning province, have moored their vessels to prepare for expanding sea ice in coming days.
"But we have still worked to harvest up to 7 metric tons of oysters every day and have taken them to Jinshitan port," said Hu Xinhua, manager of Dalian Jinshitan Port Co.
The cold front brought snowstorms across northern and southern areas on Friday, affecting 90 percent of the country.
The National Meteorological Center issued three alerts to warn local authorities and the public.
Highways in at least 12 provinces and municipalizes were closed and flights disrupted amid blizzards and gales.
Li Ran, a power plant worker in Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei province, said she was stranded for hours on a bus heading for her plant on Friday morning due to slippery roads after snow fell.
Many parts of China are forecast to experience their lowest temperatures in decades during the weekend, with heavy snowstorms expected to persist in eastern and central areas. Blizzards are expected to affect parts of Shanghai and Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan provinces.
Zhang Yu in Shijiazhuang Zhang Xiaomin in Dalian, Liaoning province contributed to this story.
