This week, a severe cold snap swept across northern and eastern parts of the Chinese mainland, bringing heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures. In cities from Harbin to Qingdao, maintenance crews are working around the clock to clear and deice highways, ensuring safe travel for commuters and keeping vital supply chains moving.
In Heilongjiang province, where temperatures dipped below -25°C, more than 3,000 road maintenance workers have deployed salt brine and mechanical scrapers. Thanks to these efforts, nearly 90% of major freight routes were reopened within 12 hours of the heaviest snowfall, minimizing disruptions for e-commerce and manufacturing networks across the region.
“Our goal is to restore full traffic flow within 24 hours of a major snowfall,” says Li, a logistics coordinator in Shenyang. “Real-time data from roadside sensors guides us to the most critical points, from hospital access roads to freight terminals.”
Beyond traditional methods, teams are testing eco-friendly deicing solutions made from beet extract and potassium acetate. Early trials in Jinan have shown these mixtures can reduce environmental runoff by up to 40%, offering a sustainable path forward for winter maintenance.
For travelers and digital nomads planning trips across the region, experts recommend using mobile apps that provide live road updates and avoiding overnight drives during peak freeze times. Commuters can also follow local transport authorities on social media for safety advisories and real-time alerts.
As climate patterns evolve, this round-the-clock response showcases how resilient infrastructure and innovative technology can keep communities connected—even when temperatures hit record lows on the Chinese mainland.
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Round-the-clock work begins to deice roads in northern, eastern China
cgtn.com
