Local traffic police rescue as vehicles left trapped by heavy snowstorm in Xinjiang

Local traffic police came to the rescue as several vehicles were left stranded by a heavy snowstorm which swept across a highway in Hami City of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday.

The intense blizzard battered a stretch of the Beijing–Urumqi Expressway, while strong winds worsened the wintry conditions and formed snow drifts in excess of 30 centimeters, leaving parts of the road completely impassable.

Local police soon rushed to the scene, where they braved the challenging conditions and worked to dig out and push the trapped cars free.

In the end, they helped rescue eight vehicles and more than 20 motorists and passengers who had been affected, while the snowy weather later cleared by the evening.

Local traffic police rescue as vehicles left trapped by heavy snowstorm in Xinjiang

More than 800 whooper swans stopped over at the Manas National Wetland Park in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on their wintering migration during the Chinese New Year holiday from Feb. 15 to 23.

Bringing vitality to the winter landscape, they drew crowds of visitors to enjoy the spectacle amid Spring Festival celebrations.

Located on a major migratory route, the park has become an ideal winter habitat for birds amid constant local conservation efforts.

Whooper swans stop over at wetland park in Xinjiang