Snow and rain forced all major expressways across China and an airport in northeast China's Liaoning Province to close down Saturday, while the operations of a shipping line in east were halted by heavy fog.

Beginning 13:00 pm Saturday, seven major expressways in Liaoning Province were closed due to snow and rain which hit northeast China beginning Friday night, according to the Liaoning Province Bureau of Expressway Management.

However, the expressway linking Shenyang to Fushun is still open to traffic.

Meanwhile, the Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, has been closed since 14:00 pm Saturday as the runways are frozen.

In the east China coastal city of Xiamen, heavy fog halted shipping between the city and Jinmen (Quemoy) Island and a ferry route linking Gulangyu Island and Xiamen Island.

The Gulangyu authorities ordered schools on the island to temporarily accommodate about 2,000 tourists who were stranded by the cancellation of the only ferry service from 15:00 pm Saturday.

The foggy weather will continue in parts of the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and those of South China, according to a forecast made by the Central Meteorological Station.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2004)