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       Severe Weather Disrupts Travel in China Ahead of Lunar New Year

       Hundreds of flights and trains have been canceled as China’s most important holiday approaches, and more bad weather is in the forecast.

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       Heavy Snow in China Disrupts Holiday Travel

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       Footage from China Central Television, a state media outlet, showed vehicles moving slowly on highways blanketed by snow as the Lunar New Year travel rush begins. CreditCredit...Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

       By Tiffany May and Amy Chang Chien

       Tiffany May reported from Seoul, and Amy Chang Chien from Taipei.

       Feb. 5, 2024Updated 9:32 a.m. ET

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       Snow and freezing rain in China were disrupting travel on Monday and had already caused hundreds of rail and flight cancellations, as millions of people traveled across the country before lunar new year holiday begins this weekend.

       For many years, heavy travel within and into China ahead of the holiday, known as Spring Festival in Chinese, produced the world’s largest annual migration.

       During the coronavirus pandemic, fear of lockdowns, quarantines and other rules deterred many from traveling. Last year, the authorities abruptly lifted those rules weeks before lunar new year after facing widespread protests, but many would-be travelers stayed put because they were anxious about spreading the virus.

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       Tiffany May is a reporter based in Hong Kong, covering the politics, business and culture of the city and the broader region. More about Tiffany May

       Amy Chang Chien is a reporter and researcher for The Times in Taipei, covering Taiwan and China. More about Amy Chang Chien

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