A police officer directs traffic on road in eastern Beijing amid snow February 6, 2006. The first snow in the year of the dog on the lunar calendar Monday morning delayed more than 200 flights and more than 40 flights were cancelled at the Beijing capital international airport. The snow also disrupted road traffic, with several expressways temporarily closed. The heavy snow affected a vast area north of the Yangtze River and caused difficulties to the post-festival road transport.

A worker shovels snow off the road.

A traditional yard stands in the snow in Beijing February 6, 2006. The city had its first snow in the year of the dog on the lunar calendar.

A JAL passenger jet approaches to land at the Beijing Capital International Airport amid snow.

A worker operates  de-icing machine to remove ice and snow from a China Eastern airliner.

People play in the snow in Beijing February 6, 2006. The first snow in the year of the dog on the lunar calendar Monday morning delayed more than 200 flights and more than 40 flights were cancelled. The snow also disrupted road traffic, with several expressways temporarily closed. The heavy snow affected a vast area north of the Yangtze River and caused difficulties to the post-festival road transport.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2006)