As the vibrant celebrations of the Spring Festival approach, millions of Chinese travelers embark on journeys to reunite with their loved ones. However, this year’s festivities have been marred by extreme weather conditions, leading to unprecedented traffic congestion.
Xu Xue, a resident of Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province, found herself stranded on a highway for over 48 hours. In a bid to endure the prolonged wait, Xu resorted to wearing adult diapers and relying on cookies and instant rice to fend off hunger while thousands of cars were trapped in a relentless traffic jam caused by a blizzard.
The city of Yichang in central China’s Hubei Province, Xu’s hometown destination, became a focal point of the chaos as snowstorms and freezing rain wreaked havoc on travel plans. Officials have reported that a record nine billion trips are expected during this year’s Spring Festival travel period, which commenced on January 26 and will extend until March 5. Astonishingly, more than 90 percent of these journeys are anticipated to be made by road, exacerbating the strain on highways and urban thoroughfares.
Extreme weather events like these pose significant challenges to China’s infrastructure and highlight the resilience required to manage such immense travel volumes. As the nation grapples with balancing festive traditions and safety, stories like Xu’s underscore the human impact of these disruptions and the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness measures.
Despite the setbacks, the spirit of the Spring Festival remains unbroken, with communities rallying together to support stranded travelers and ensure that the essence of reunion and celebration endures even in the face of adversity.
Reference(s):
How does China cope with huge traffic rush in extreme weather?
cgtn.com
