Snow blanketed north China Saturday morning, easing drought and bringing smiles to people's faces.

 

Most parts of north China including Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Henan, and Inner Mongolia experienced light snow or sleet, with about 4-6 millimeters of snow falling in some areas, said He Lifu, a weather forecaster with the Central Meteorological Station.

 

At Beijing Capital International Airport, the snowfall delayed inbound and outbound flights.

 

The snow is expected to gradually retreat during the day. By Sunday only the Liaodong and Shandong peninsulas and areas south of the Yellow River and Huaihe River will still be experiencing snow or sleet, He said.

 

Drought has affected large areas of north and northeast China this winter with warmer-than-normal weather being reported.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2006)