The first snow this year began to fall on China's capital city Beijing in the wee hours of Tuesday, bringing with it joy to the city that had endured a long dry period, but also flight delays and traffic troubles.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, more than 150 inbound and two outbound flights in the Beijing Capital International Airport were delayed due to the snow, according to the North Regional Administration (NRA) of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

But NRA officials said those flights were expected to resume later Wednesday afternoon as the airport worked to remove the snow.

The snow also caused blockades to some roads in the eastern Tongzhou District of the city, and to highways such as Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Highway, Beijing-Tianjin Second Highway, and Beijing-Shenyan Highway, according to local traffic authorities.

The slippery ice-paved road also led to fender benders, causing traffic congestions along the fifth eastern ring road of the city.

Latest weather forecasts from the country's National Meteorological Center show the city's temperature is unlikely to rise within the week. The eastern part of the country is also expected to receive more heavy snow and rain.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)