A strong cold front has swept across northern China over recent days, bringing the first snowfall of autumn to several regions along with sleet, lower temperatures, and frost.
Local authorities have taken active measures to minimize the weather's impact on transportation and daily life.
Snowfall began on Monday afternoon in the Tianshan Mountain areas of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
In Hejing County, heavy snow and strong winds led to severe road icing and whiteout conditions, resulting in the temporary closure of a 30-kilometer section of National Highway 218. Local police promptly implemented traffic controls, and confirmed that no vehicles were stranded in affected areas.
At Xinjiang's Sayram Lake scenic area, snow started falling at 16:00 Monday. According to the Xinjiang Meteorological Observatory, the snowfall in the Tianshan Mountain areas is expected to gradually taper off by Wednesday.
The region's capital Urumqi City witnessed the first snowfall of the season at 06:00 Wednesday. By 09:30, temperatures had dropped to minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, the first sub-zero reading this season.
In response, Urumqi traffic police has activated emergency measures to ensure smooth flow on major roads, while heating providers elevated output parameters to ensure household warmth.
Meanwhile, Mudanjiang City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province also saw the season's first snowfall on Wednesday. Light accumulation dusted rooftops in Linkou County's northern highlands, though above-freezing daytime temperatures and sunshine prompted rapid melting.
Multiple regions see first snowfall of autumn in China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the international community to promote dialogue among the parties involved in the conflict in the Middle East.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty at the latter's request.
Abdelatty briefed Wang on his views on the development of the regional situation. Expressing that the Egyptian side is deeply concerned about the current situation, he said that if energy and power facilities are attacked and paralyzed, it will lead to chaos throughout the region.
To cool down the situation, Egypt is communicating with all parties and actively promoting negotiations, he said.
Noting that Egypt and China are comprehensive strategic partners, Abdelatty said that Egypt is willing to maintain close coordination with China and jointly enhance diplomatic efforts to prevent the region and the world from falling further into turmoil.
For his part, Wang said that both China and Egypt are responsible countries that both oppose military operations without authorization from the UN Security Council, oppose attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and do not approve of the conflict spreading to the Gulf countries.
The situation in the Middle East is changing rapidly, Wang said, pointing out that both the United States and Iran are signaling their readiness to negotiate. A glimmer of hope for peace has emerged, he said.
If this war continues, it will only bring more casualties and unnecessary losses, leading to further spillover of the situation, Wang said.
Stressing that as long as there is dialogue, there is hope for peace, Wang said that the actions of the Security Council should help ease the situation and promote dialogue, and help prevent the expansion of the war instead of giving a pass to the use of force.
Noting that China supports Egypt in continuing to play a mediating role in promoting the resumption of peace talks and the cessation of the war, Wang said that China is also willing to continue with its constructive efforts to this end.
Chinese FM calls on world to promote dialogue among parties to Mideast conflict
